After incredibly losing the World Series against the Dodgers, the Blue Jays have no choice but to think about next season. In the midst of the drama over the loss, at least the Canadian franchise has received the good news that right-hander Shane Bieber has exercised his player option and will remain with the team for 2026.
Toronto will have to shell out $16 million for the pitcher, who will be part of a consistent rotation alongside Kevin Gausman, Trey Yasavage and Jose Berrios, who is due to return to action after several months out through injury.
This is a reasonable expense for the Blue Jays, who secure an experienced arm to battle once again for dominance in the American League. Bieber is eager to prove that there are no traces of the ailments that forced him to undergo Tommy John surgery in 2024, to revalue himself and then try next winter in free agency, when he will be only 31 years old.
At first glance, Bieber’s name may not be very exciting to Toronto fans, as he was the pitcher who allowed Will Smith’s home run that gave the Dodgers a decisive lead in Game 7 of the World Series. Nevertheless, the right-hander presents himself as an interesting option for the Blue Jays judging by his performance in 2025.
Toronto acquired the right-hander at the trade deadline last July, when he had only pitched 11.1 innings in four rehab starts. They then decided to keep him in the Minor Leagues and monitor his progress first-hand. The right-hander’s response was satisfactory, with three starts over 17.2 innings, 16 strikeouts, two walks and four earned runs allowed.
Bieber made the jump to the majors in the final days of August and during the final stretch of the regular season, he convinced Toronto that he could be an important arm in the playoffs. In seven appearances, he posted a 3.57 ERA with a .225 opponent average, a line he then maintained in decisive games against the Yankees, Mariners and Dodgers.
In those postseason clashes, he achieved two wins in five starts, with a 3.86 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 18.2 innings of work. Although he lost the final game, he proved that his arsenal can still be exploited and thus return to the stellar plans that led him to be the ace par excellence in Cleveland, even winning the Cy Young Award in 2020.
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