NEW YORK — The Guardians found themselves in a difficult situation before they traded Shane Bieber to Toronto on Thursday, hours before the 6 p.m. deadline. They had spent the better part of two years helping the former Cy Young winner rehab from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in April of 2024.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/onsi/minor-league-baseball as Shane Bieber Does Something in Minor League Rehab Start He Hasn't Done Since 2022.

However, they did swing one noteworthy deal, shipping off Shane Bieber to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitching prospect Khal Stephen. A few days after the deal, former MLB executive Jim Bowden of The Athletic deemed this the best trade at the deadline, but not for the Guardians.