The 2026 MLB season is approaching its final month, and most of the contending teams have a pretty good idea of which players they’ll be bringing into the Postseason with them. The trade deadline has passed, so teams can no longer bolster their roster via trade, but teams are still scouring the waiver wire to look for help. By September 1, a player must be added to a team’s roster to be eligible for the Postseason, so meaningful claims will need to happen in the next few days. This time of year is typically when non-competitive teams will put rental veterans on outright waivers to see if someone else will pick up their remaining salary for the year, much like the White Sox did with Aaron Civale last year.
The White Sox are on the other end of the spectrum this year, with the team likely looking to add to their roster as veterans become available. One name that I keep coming back to that could be available in this situation is Blue Jays righty Shane Bieber. He’s a guy that the White Sox could be in play for if made available.
Shane Bieber would bring a reliable veteran to White Sox pitching staff
Bieber, 31, is most known for his days in Cleveland, where he became a two-time AL All-Star and won the Cy Young award during the shortened 2020 season. Bieber battled injuries during his later years in Cleveland, and he joined the Blue Jays at the 2025 trade deadline despite not having pitched in the first half. Bieber returned in the second half for Toronto, posting a 3.57 ERA in seven outings in the second half and producing strong 18.2 innings in the postseason.
Another elbow injury delayed Bieber’s start to 2026 and he didn’t make his season debut until June 23rd. He got off to a rocky start, but has gone at least five innings and allowed one run or less in five of his last seven starts. Bieber is far from the dominant frontline starter he once was, but he can still provide solid innings to a team in need of a reliable starter down the stretch, and the White Sox are undoubtedly in that category.
Shane Bieber, 93mph Bullseye. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/ZtR6HX6CO3
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 20, 2026
The one roadblock towards this fit is the Blue Jays still hanging around the AL Wild Card race. At 64-68 entering Monday, the Blue Jays would already be focusing on 2027 in past seasons, but they sit just 1.5 games out of the playoff picture in a bad American League. The defending AL champs are certainly going to try to push for the playoffs if they can, as evidenced by their trade deadline decisions, and I can’t see a team still in contention just giving away a veteran starter. It would take a losing streak over the next few days for me to see this being an option, but the White Sox should be all over it if it is.
With a few veterans likely headed for waivers in the next few days, the White Sox should be scouring the market in search of ways to upgrade their roster as they push for the playoffs. The biggest need is for certainty in their starting rotation, and Shane Bieber could definitely provide that if he’s available.
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