It turns out Shane Bieber wasn’t just a rental pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays after all.
The 30-year-old, whom the Jays acquired from the Cleveland Guardians at the trade deadline, was expected to have plenty of suitors lining up to give him a lucrative, long-term deal this offseason.
Any teams interested in the 2020 Cy Young Award winner will now have to wait at least one more season, as he shocked the baseball world on Tuesday by exercising his player option for the 2026 season, meaning he’ll return on a one-year, $16 million deal.
WELCOME BACK, BIEBS!
OFFICIAL: RHP Shane Bieber has exercised his player option for the 2026 season. pic.twitter.com/p9DEFD1InE
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) November 5, 2025
All of a sudden, the Jays, who were expected to be in the free-agent market for a strong starting pitcher, may not need to target a whole lot of starting pitching whatsoever.
With Bieber opting in, here’s a quick look at what the top four of their rotation is currently looking like for the 2026 season (order could change):
Kevin Gausman
Trey Yesavage
Shane Bieber
Jose Berrios
There will be one spot available, which is that fifth and final spot in the rotation. What will be interesting to see is whether the Jays opt for outside help, perhaps via free agency, or if they elect to have internal options battle for it.
Potential in-house options include Eric Lauer, who was brilliant in the 15 starts he made this past season, or Bowden Francis, whose 2025 season was hampered by injuries and inconsistent play.
The Blue Jays could also look to bring back Chris Bassitt, who has spent the past three years in the organization. Bassitt could, however, also return in a relief role, given how strong he was out of the bullpen throughout the playoffs.
What option the Blue Jays choose to go remains to be seen, though Bieber opting in likely means they won’t be targeting a top-tier starter on the free-agent market.
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