"Starting pitcher Shane Bieber has elected to return to the Toronto Blue Jays next season rather than enter the open market as a free agent. He has exercised his $16 million US player option for the 2026 season, the team said Wednesday. Bieber, 30, was 4-2 and posted a 3.57 earned-run average with Toronto after being acquired from the Cleveland Guardians at the trade deadline this past summer."
"Bieber posted a 2-1 record in the post-season with a 3.86 ERA. He earned a Game 4 road win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series and pitched in relief in Game 7. Bieber gave up a go-ahead home run to Will Smith in the 11th inning of the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss at Rogers Centre. Since his major league debut with Cleveland in 2018, Bieber has a 66-34 record and 3.24 ERA."
"Bieber allowed two hits over six innings in his Toronto debut on Aug. 22 in his first major-league start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2024. His return for 2026 was somewhat of a surprise, given he likely could have signed a lucrative long-term deal on the open market. By returning to the Blue Jays, he gets a chance to boost his value further on a team that's expected to contend again next year."
Shane Bieber exercised his $16 million player option to remain with the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2026 season. He went 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA after being acquired from the Cleveland Guardians at the trade deadline. The Blue Jays' rotation will likely feature Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Jose Berrios and possibly Eric Lauer, while Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt are free agents. Bieber posted a 2-1 postseason record with a 3.86 ERA, including a Game 4 World Series win and relief work in Game 7. Since his 2018 debut he is 66-34 with a 3.24 ERA and won the 2020 AL Cy Young. He returned from Tommy John surgery in 2024 and chose to rejoin a contending Toronto club that won the AL East with 94 wins; spring training begins mid-February and the 2026 season opens March 26 against the Athletics.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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