Shane Bieber opts in with Blue Jays for 2026 (source)

TORONTO — Just days into the offseason following their loss in Game 7 of the World Series to the Dodgers, the Blue Jays have already tallied their first win.

Shane Bieber has opted in with the Blue Jays for $16 million in 2026, a source told MLB.comâ€s Mark Feinsand, an unexpected move that immediately boosts a Blue Jays rotation in need. Bieber could have chosen to hit free agency at 30, but by picking up his player option, heâ€ll now have a shot at further re-establishing his value before hitting the open market a year from now.

The club has not confirmed the news.

The former Cy Young Award winner was widely expected to test the market immediately, fresh off Tommy John surgery and his return to the mound with the Blue Jays. After being traded to Toronto by the Guardians on July 31, Bieber put up a 3.57 ERA over seven starts down the stretch, then a 3.86 ERA over five appearances in the postseason.

Speaking after the Blue Jays†Game 7 loss to the Dodgers recently, Bieber was one of many veterans in the Blue Jays†clubhouse to praise the unique culture they had built. Itâ€s what had fellow veteran starter Chris Bassitt, now a free agent himself, saying through tears that he hoped heâ€d get another shot with this group. The 2025 Blue Jays captured something special, and now, Bieber is coming back for more.

“A lot of intangibles. Some things that are difficult to describe,†Bieber said. “The grit. The perseverance. The togetherness. Theyâ€re pulling for one another. Itâ€s not just one guy, thatâ€s the whole clubhouse.â€

Given that Bieber was still on the home stretch of his recovery from Tommy John when the Blue Jays acquired him, itâ€s hard to frame his 2025 season as the “full†version. We certainly saw flashes, perhaps the brightest of them in Game 3 of the ALCS in Seattle, when Bieber sidestepped an early stumble to dominate the Mariners. Itâ€s reasonable to believe that a full offseason and Spring Training will help Bieber, though, bringing a step closer to the pitcher who posted a 2.91 ERA from 2020 to ‘24.

For the Blue Jays, this is some much-needed good news. Frankly, this will be some of the best news they get all offseason. To have Bieber for one more season at just $16 million is a dream come true for the Blue Jays.

Work remains for the Blue Jays†rotation, but the early slots could line up with Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Bieber and José Berríos. Bassitt and Max Scherzer are free agents now, but the Blue Jays are still expected to address the rotation aggressively, leaving Bowden Francis, No. 6 prospect Gage Stanifer and others to compete for depth roles. Keep in mind that both Gausman and Bieber are free agents at the end of ‘26, so the Blue Jays will be targeting long-term options at the top end of the market, not just stopgaps.

This move also gives the Blue Jays added flexibility elsewhere in the market, but they were already sitting in a position of strength there. Bo Bichette will be the headliner this offseason, but on top of Scherzer and Bassitt, Seranthony Domínguez, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ty France are also free agents. Along with Gausman and Bieber being a year away, George Springer and Daulton Varsho are entering the final years of their deals. Rogers ownership has already shown a commitment to spending, but coming off the World Series run that reignited a love for baseball across Canada, the time has never been better to spend big, both in the short and long term.

This could easily end up being the best one-year pact the Blue Jays have had since Marcus Semien came north for a year in 2021 and launched 45 home runs. Now that the Blue Jays have tasted the biggest stage in baseball, they want to run it back. The news of Bieberâ€s player option is the best start they could have hoped for in early November.

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