Toronto Blue Jays strengthen bullpen with busy trade deadline

The GIST: Forget runnin’ out of time, yesterday’s 6 p.m. ET MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and the American League-best Toronto Blue Jays made moves in spades with hopes of playing playoff baseball deep into October.

🍿 The blockbuster deal: Toronto’s catch of the day came when the Blue Birds stood on business to acquire former Cy Young pitcher Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians yesterday.

• This is a big deal if it’s a vintage Bieber who takes the mound: The right-hander hasn’t pitched since April 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and is expected to make his return in mid-August.

😮‍💨 Bolstering the bullpen: Defense wins championships, and the Blue Jays need more of it if they want to meet the moment. In addition to Bieber, the Jays also picked up a pair of relievers: Louis Varland from the Minnesota Twins and Seranthony Domínguez from the Baltimore Orioles.

• And Domínguez has already been busy, pitching two scoreless innings against his former squad earlier this week.

❓ The big question: It may feel like the Blue Jays bet the farm this trade deadline, and they did. Will this aggressive approach be enough for the squad to win their first World Series since 1993 — or did they trade away too many of their future prospects? Truth and time tell all.