Salvador Perez's game-tying homer (14)
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New York Times
21 minutes ago
- New York Times
How Shane Bieber reshapes the Blue Jays' starting rotation
TORONTO — With a rotation built of consistent veterans and stable normalcy, the Toronto Blue Jays injected some real upside on Thursday morning. Acquiring Shane Bieber ahead of the trade deadline adds a potential playoff starter to the Jays' rotation — a guy with a Cy Young on his mantle, an ERA title in his bag and three career postseason outings under his belt. However, that upside comes with risk. Advertisement Bieber owns a 3.22 career ERA, but has made just two big-league starts since the start of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. He's yet to appear in an MLB game this season, though he nears a return. It's a gamble the Jays were willing to make, hoping to enhance their starting group from one built to thrive in the regular season to one that can win in October. Bieber remains at least two weeks away from a big-league return. He threw four innings of one-run ball in his latest rehab outing, striking out seven batters and reaching 59 pitches. The righty has progressed smoothly and his next scheduled start was set for Sunday, but there's always risk in the recovery from one of baseball's most significant surgeries, even in the final stages. Weirdly, Bieber's delayed arrival may have added to Toronto's interest. He's certainly a better fit with the Jays than other teams in need of immediate rotation help. After navigating spot starts and bullpen games for the first two months of the 2025 season, manager John Schneider finally found a set starting five in June. Max Scherzer's thumb concerns have quieted and Eric Lauer has turned from temporary solution to permanent rotation fixture. Despite owning the 24th-ranked rotation ERA, there is no clear starting pitcher to bump out of the group at this point, and a long-term six-man rotation would be difficult with many off days in the next two months. 'I feel really good about them,' Schneider said of his rotation. 'You know what you're going to get. They're reliable, they're veteran, they're durable, knock on wood. But yeah, pretty happy with that group.' So the Jays can afford patience with Bieber's recovery. If a rotation spot opens in August, Bieber should be able to step in. If the current group remains healthy, figuring out who to bump to the bullpen (or if a six-man is required) will be a future problem — and arguably a good one to have. Alek Manoah and prospects like Adam Macko, Kendrys Rojas and Trey Yesavage now become more luxury than necessary depth. As long as Bieber is healthy and effective by October, that's all that matters for a Toronto team currently sitting 6 ½ games up on the American League's final playoff spot. Advertisement While Bieber didn't come cheap, the injury certainly impacted his value. The lone prospect traded to Cleveland, Khal Stephen, was highly regarded in Toronto's system with six different pitches, improving command and one of the lowest ERAs in minor-league baseball this year. Per Keith Law, Stephen entered the 2025 campaign as Toronto's ninth-ranked prospect, though he likely sits higher after a strong season. However, the price tag still wasn't the multiple-prospect package needed to acquire one of the market's top rental starters, like Dylan Cease, Zac Gallen or Merrill Kelly. Yet, if healthy and anything close to his prior form, Bieber could deliver comparable, or even better, results to those other rentals down the stretch. He has a lower career ERA than all three. The former Cy Young winner comes with obvious risk. Can he stay healthy? Will he recover and return to the top-of-rotation production he flashed before injury? However, that recovery — and Bieber's current timeline — allows Toronto not to confront an immediate decision in the rotation. And with the Blue Jays setting eyes on October, he could bring the undeniable upside needed to win when it matters. (Photo of Shane Bieber in March 2024: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
Fox News
21 minutes ago
- Fox News
Padres acquire All-Star closer Mason Miller from Athletics in blockbuster deal before trade deadline: reports
The biggest splash of the MLB trade deadline thus far has come between two west coast teams. The Athletics traded All-Star closer Mason Miller and starting pitcher J.P. Sears to the San Diego Padres for the third-ranked prospect in all of baseball and three other minor league pitchers, according to multiple reports. Rumors swirled earlier in the week that Miller's name had been mentioned in preliminary discussions. Late Wednesday, it was revealed the Padres had put their name in the hat. It was a hefty price for the Padres, but it's hard to blame them right now. They own a three-game lead for the final wild card spot, but they're also just three games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL West crown. Miller is, hands down one, of the best in the game. He made his MLB debut in 2023 but burst onto the scene last year with a 2.49 ERA and 14.4 K/9. He was named an All-Star last season, which was his first full campaign in the majors. He's been clocked at 104.1 mph and averages 101.1 on the gun this season, the fastest in the sport. His strikeout percentage of 39.1% is also the best mark in the major leagues, but he does rank in the bottom-10 percentile in walk-rate. His ERA is also up from last year, being at 3.76. Nonetheless, the Padres have locked up their closer, who won't even reach arbitration until after next season. That explains the haul the Athletics got, with the prized possession being shortstop Leo De Vries, an 18-year-old from the Domincan Republic. He signed with the Padres as a top international prospect for $4.2 million last year and was almost immediately a top prosect. De Vries represented San Diego in the MLB All-Star Futures Game earlier this month in Atlanta. This year appears to be the trade deadline of relievers, and Miller tops the class.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Mercury's Kahleah Copper slams 'distasteful' Fever fans for booing DeWanna Bonner
The Phoenix Mercury's DeWanna Bonner made her return to the Indiana Fever on July 30 after being waived by the team on June 25 after it couldn't find a trade partner for her. Fever fans apparently don't have fond memories of her short tenure in Indiana. They booed Bonner relentlessly during the Fever's 107-101 win over Phoenix, with some fans also talking trash to the WNBA player and yelling out "quitter," according to the Indianapolis Star. The treatment of Bonner did not sit well with the Mercury's Kahleah Copper, who slammed the Fever fans for their "distasteful" behavior toward her teammate after the game. More: Phoenix Mercury's losing streak against Indiana Fever extends to 6 games Kahleah Copper calls out 'distasteful' Indiana Fever fans 'I just don't understand,' Copper told reporters about the fans' behavior toward Bonner. 'She a legend and just all the things she's done for the league. Just the disrespect, I can't get down with it. They booed her. She didn't say a word to the crowd. People talk some trash to her, but we had her back. 'It's just very distasteful for what their fan base is doing as far as when it comes to [Bonner] because she's just sweet or so. The situation didn't work for her. That's just not what she wanted or whatever, but we don't need all of that. It's just unnecessary.' DeWanna Bonner on Fever: 'The fit did not work out' Indiana signed Bonner in the offseason, but she requested a trade after just nine games with the team. After being away from the team for five games for personal reasons, the Fever released her and Bonner signed with the Mercury, where she began her NBA career. 'I want to sincerely thank the Indiana Fever for the opportunity to be part of the Fever franchise," Bonner said in a news release upon her release from the team. "Despite our shared goals and excitement heading into the season, I felt the fit did not work out and I appreciate the organization's willingness to grant my request to move on, particularly at this point in my career. I wish the Fever great success as they continue to build around this dynamic group of young players.' Some Indiana fans harbor ill feelings toward Bonner, based on their treatment of her during the game. Alyssa Thomas, Bonner's teammate and fiancée, was seen at one point yelling at some people in the crowd, presumably over the treatment of Bonner. What Nate Tibbetts said about Fever fans' treatment of DeWanna Bonner Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts had a much more guarded reaction to Bonner's reception than Copper and other Mercury players. "I didn't see that, (but) I would guess so. AT (Alyssa Thomas) is a competitive player. Just like their players talk to their fans, our players are going to do the same," Tibbetts told reporters after the game. "I thought (Bonner) handled it fine. That's how sports work, you go to a former home of yours when you don't leave on your terms and typically fans aren't going to be happy. That's what they did tonight." Reach Jeremy Cluff at Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff. Support local journalism: Subscribe to today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Indiana Fever fans slammed as 'distasteful' by Phoenix Mercury star
