There was a lot of action ahead of the MLB trade deadline this year, and the Toronto Blue Jays were right in the middle of a lot of it. One of the most pleasant surprises in baseball this season, the Blue Jays entered the All-Star break in first place in the American League East and remained there heading into trade deadline action.

The Toronto Blue Jays had to take a gamble. USA Today's Bob Nightengale calls it the "biggest gamble" made at the MLB trade deadline. The move that qualified: Toronto's trade for Cleveland's Shane Bieber.

Adding the rehabbing Bieber injects the Blue Jays' starting group with proven depth and upside, while the Guardians nab a real prospect.