Each start that Shane Bieber makes leading up to the Aug. 3 trade deadline will hold considerable implications for the Toronto Blue Jays’ plans ahead of their expected sell-off.

Bieber is among the franchise’s group of impending free agents — other notables include Kevin Gausman, George Springer, Daulton Varsho and Max Scherzer — that’ll continue to be the subject of trade speculation unless the team rattles off an extended winning streak on this road trip through Boston and Washington.

The Blue Jays, of course, don’t have to look very far for an example of how a hot couple of weeks can completely reignite your post-season odds. Just last month, the Red Sox were all but left for dead amidst their disappointing first-half showing. Now, entering Friday’s series opener at Fenway Park, they hold a two-game lead on the American League’s final wild-card seed.

That’s one of the models that Toronto’s brass is likely pointing to as other teams have begun circling their roster like sharks in the water, readying themselves in position to pounce on its prey. Given how Bieber has performed lately, the 31-year-old starter is quickly emerging as one of their primary targets.

Since making his 2026 season debut, Bieber has been forced to adjust on the fly against major-league hitters following his delayed start due to the residual effects of last season’s return from Tommy John surgery. At first, the results — impacted by his season-opening IL stint because of forearm inflammation — weren’t flattering across his first four starts, sporting an inflated 7.64 ERA and 8.48 FIP in just 17.2 innings.

The last two, however, have been drastically different. We’ve seen 2025 Shane Bieber rise to the surface again, particularly during his seven-inning clinic of one-run ball against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.

In this span, Bieber has pitched to a much-improved 0.69 ERA after having allowed one earned run over his last 13 innings pitched, while also issuing just a pair of walks and striking out nine.

A few things have course-corrected for Bieber in the last week or so to help fuel this recent turnaround. Along with his command being sharper, his fastball is back to sitting 92-93 m.p.h. and topping out at 94. That’s an increase of a few miles per hour compared to his earlier starts, and while that may not seem significant, in pitching terms, it is.

Both elements have allowed Bieber to look much more like himself on the mound. As we witnessed last year, both in the regular season and playoffs, being at his best tends to feature plenty of ground balls.

And lots of weak contact to that end, too.

Considering we’re now less than two weeks away from the trade deadline, Bieber is certainly trending in the right direction at the perfect time. He’s scheduled to make his next start versus a Nationals lineup that currently leads the majors in both runs scored per game (5.5) and home runs (150) this season — the Blue Jays’ offence ranks 30th and 27th, respectively.

So, after shutting down the AL East-leading Rays last time out, he’ll be on tap for another important test when he next toes the rubber. After that, his turn wouldn’t come around again until deadline day — if he remains a Blue Jay by then, that is.

For now, though, the veteran right-hander is keeping his focus on one start at a time.

Impact starting pitchers such as Bieber — who carries three seasons of post-season experience and was an exceptional post-TJ surgery gamble by the front office at last season’s deadline — are always in high demand around this time in the baseball calendar. If he continues pitching well, the list of interested suitors will be plentiful, meaning there’s a strong chance he’ll be moved for the second time in as many trade deadlines.

His most recent opponent, the Rays, are sure to be one of many contenders seeking rotation upgrades between now and Aug. 3. The White Sox, Braves, Brewers and Cubs are also teams that are expected to be shopping in that market, as well.

Coming off a World Series appearance and positioned in a wide-open AL, Toronto’s front office likely won’t have much of an appetite for trading upcoming free agents like Bieber just for the sake of doing so. Alternatively, they could stand pat and hope to make a push for that final wild-card spot — a reality of the current playoff format — if the returns aren’t considered worthwhile.

In the end, the trade market figures to dictate how the Blue Jays operate, whether as an aggressive seller, a team that stays relatively quiet or one that conducts a bit of selling and buying.

Off The Roster is Toronto sports. Hosted by Cabbie Richards, Lindsay Dunn, and Dan Riccio, this is the go-to morning conversation for everything happening in the 6ix – Hockey, Baseball, Basketball and everything in between. From breakout performances and questionable trades to throwback jerseys, viral moments, and the stories fans are actually talking about—it’s smart, sharp, and never scripted. Live weekday mornings on the Nation Network YouTube channel and available wherever you stream podcasts, the show delivers real opinions, real chemistry, and real Toronto energy. Missed an episode? Catch up anytime. Off The Roster—The new sound of the 6ix.