The Toronto Blue Jays made a splash on MLB trade deadline day, acquiring right-hander Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians.
Cleveland received righty Khal Stephen, a 22-year-old minor-league pitcher ranked the No. 5 prospect in Toronto’s system by MLB Pipeline.
Toronto also picked up catching prospect Brandon Valenzuela from the San Diego Padres in exchange for infielder Will Wagner on Thursday.
Bieber, 30, is nearing a return from Tommy John surgery and hasn’t pitched in the majors this season.
He’s posted a 1.59 earned-run average and 0.71 WHIP across four rehab starts, including a seven-strikeout performance over four innings Tuesday with Double-A Akron.
The former American League Cy Young winner has spent his entire career with Cleveland since being drafted in 2016, compiling a 62-32 record with a 3.22 ERA over 136 big-league appearances. He’s also a two-time all-star, a Gold Glove recipient and was named MVP of the 2019 all-star game.
Bieber won the Cy Young in 2020 during the pandemic-shortened 60-game season, after leading the majors in wins (8), ERA (1.63) and strikeouts (122) — becoming just the ninth pitcher since 1913 to claim MLB’s Triple Crown.
He agreed to a one-year, $14 million contract last fall with a $16 million player option for 2026.
Stephen, meanwhile, has gone 9-1 with a 2.06 ERA across three minor-league levels this season.
The Mississippi State product was a second-round pick by Toronto in 2024 and has struck out 27.9 per cent of opposing batters in his first full pro campaign.
Bieber was the Blue Jays’ second major pitching acquisition this week after adding reliever Seranthony Dominguez from the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old Valenzuela hit 14 doubles, a triple, a dozen home runs and 46 RBI while carrying an on-base plus slugging percentage of .700 through 87 games for Double-A San Antonio this season.
The catcher from Hermosillo, Mexico, has thrown out 25 base runners. His 34.7 per cent caught stealing percentage ranks second among all Double-A catchers.
The 27-year-old Wagner from Houston, Texas, appeared in 40 games for the Blue Jays this season with a batting average of .237, seven extra-base hits and seven RBI.
Toronto acquired Wagner from the Astros at last season’s trade deadline along with outfielder Joey Loperfido and pitcher Jake Bloss in exchange for pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.
The San Diego Padres acquired hard-throwing closer Mason Miller and left-hander JP Sears in a deal with the Athletics on Thursday, adding major upgrades to their pitching staff in a trade deadline blockbuster.
The Padres gave up an impressive package of prospects, sending highly-regarded shortstop Leo De Vries and right-handed pitchers Henry Baez, Braden Nett and Eduarniel Nunez to the A’s.
The Padres entered Thursday in the National League’s final wild card spot at 60-49 after sweeping the New York Mets on Wednesday for their fifth consecutive win overall. San Diego trails the defending World Series champion Dodgers (63-46) by just three games in the NL West, and Preller clearly believes his veteran core has World Series potential.
The 26-year-old Miller, whose fastball averages 101 mph, has 20 saves in 23 opportunities, a 3.76 ERA and 59 strikeouts for the A’s this season. He was an All-Star in 2024 and is under team control through the 2029 season.
Carlos Correa is returning to Houston, giving the Astros a huge — and familiar — boost after they reacquired the shortstop from the Minnesota Twins just before Thursday’s trade deadline, according to a person with direct knowledge.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been announced. Additional terms of the deal weren’t immediately available.
Correa spent his first seven years in Houston, where he became one of the most beloved players in franchise history, helping the team to six playoff appearances, three American League pennants and its first World Series title in 2017 — a title tainted by a sign-stealing scandal. The top pick in the 2012 amateur draft and 2015 AL Rookie of the Year was part of the homegrown core that helped the Astros go from the league’s laughingstock to perennial contenders.
Looking to fortify their bullpen for the stretch run, the New York Yankees agreed to acquire two-time All-Star closer David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates a few hours ahead of baseball’s trade deadline Thursday.
New York was set to send catcher/first base prospect Rafael Flores, catcher Edgleen Perez and outfielder Brian Sanchez to the Pirates in exchange for Bednar, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a review of medical information and had not been announced.
The Yankees had been seeking more late-inning options for their bullpen, which entered Thursday with a 4.24 ERA — including a 6.27 mark in July.
Turning their attention to offence, the New York Mets acquired centre fielder Cedric Mullins from the Baltimore Orioles for three minor league pitchers before the Major League Baseball trade deadline Thursday.
The last-place Orioles received right-handers Raimon Gomez, Anthony Nunez and Chandler Marsh.
The speedy Mullins gives the Mets an all-around upgrade in centre, where Tyrone Taylor was playing terrific defence but providing little offence. Versatile veteran Jeff McNeil has also been getting starts in centre because of his bat, but he has much more experience at second base and the corner outfield spots.
The 30-year-old Mullins, an All-Star in 2021, can become a free agent this fall. He’s batting .229 with 15 homers, 49 RBIs, 14 stolen bases and a .738 OPS in 91 games this season — but his numbers have picked up dramatically of late. The left-handed hitter batted .290 with three homers, seven doubles and an .868 OPS in July.
The Detroit Tigers are making moves, hoping to increase their chances of winning a World Series for the first time in more than four decades.
The 33-year-old Finnegan was an All-Star in 2024, but his velocity has been down this season. He has 20 saves with a 4.38 ERA in 2025.
Detroit added Paul Sewald earlier in the day, giving the rebuilding Cleveland Guardians cash for the right-handed reliever.
The AL Central-leading Tigers won their fourth straight game with newly acquired starting pitcher Chris Paddack on Wednesday, two days after he was added in a trade with the Minnesota Twins.
The Philadelphia Phillies are acquiring outfielder Harrison Bader for two minor leaguers, a person with direct knowledge of the trade said Thursday, their second deal with the Minnesota Twins in two days after landing closer Jhoan Duran.
The person confirmed the swap to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it was pending a review of medical records. ESPN was first to report it.
The 31-year-old Bader, a 2021 Gold Glove winner, remains a strong defender at all three outfield spots and has 12 home runs, 38 RBIs and a .778 OPS in 96 games. Bader adds another bat to an outfield that has struggled to put up big offensive numbers. He also has postseason experience, playing in five postseason series with the Cardinals, Yankees and Mets with a .809 OPS and five career homers.
The right-handed hitting Bader could fall into a platoon with left-handers Brandon Marsh in center or Max Kepler in left.
The Phillies are sending minor league outfielder Hendry Mendez and right-hander Geremy Villoria to the Twins for Bader.
The Phillies acquired Duran to round out the bullpen a day earlier. He has 16 saves and a 2.01 ERA in 49 appearances this season, striking out 53 in 49 1/3 innings. That deal cost the win-now Phillies a stronger pair of prospects in catcher Eduardo Tait and right-hander Mick Abel.
