#ross-atkins

#ross-atkins

Most importantly, Bieber was one of the high-upside pitchers available at last summer's trade deadline who could make a big difference down the stretch. Still, there were questions about just how valuable Bieber really was. He hadn't pitched since April 2024 on account of Tommy John Surgery and had posted middling results since his 2020 AL Cy Young award so when the Blue Jays brought him in, they were being careful with his eventual return to action.

But here there are and it's thanks in part to a couple of shrewd moves by GM Ross Atkins, including the acquisitions of Max Scherzer and Shane Bieber. Now, with their backs against the wall, the fate of the Blue Jays season rests on the shoulders of these two household names - guys that may only be wearing Blue Jays jerseys for one season or less.