Shane Bieber’s contract choice provides Blue Jays one much less offseason query to reply

The AL champion Toronto Blue Jays have one fewer merchandise on their offseason to-do checklist. Proper-hander Shane Bieber will train his $16 million participant possibility and stick with the membership for 2026, stories the New York Publish. Bieber would have obtained a $4 million buyout had he declined the participant possibility, so it was a $12 million choice.

Getting Bieber again on the participant possibility is an excellent end result for Toronto. It is an reasonably priced wage, it is a short-term dedication, and it is affordable to imagine he can be more practical as he will get additional away from elbow reconstruction. The Blue Jays do not want Bieber to be an ace or perhaps a No. 2 starter. He is greater than certified to be a No. 3, and has an opportunity to be much more.

Our R.J. Anderson ranked Bieber because the Thirteenth-best free agent out there this offseason. Now he is off the market. This is the write-up:

Bieber returned from Tommy John surgical procedure late within the season, showcasing a powerful deal with over a median arsenal. His fastball did clock in hotter than it has since 2021, and his slider at occasions flashed above-average high quality. Probably the most attention-grabbing growth right here, although, involved a freshly minted kick-changeup that graded higher than its outcomes. Bieber ought to seek out success for so long as he can find, however he is extra of a mid-rotation starter than a frontline sort.

Bieber, 30, joined Toronto in a deadline commerce with the Cleveland Guardians. He was rehabbing from Tommy John surgical procedure on the time. Bieber made seven common season begins with the Blue Jays, pitching to a 3.57 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 40 ⅓ innings. He had a 3.86 ERA in 18 ⅔ postseasons inning throughout Toronto’s run to the American League pennant.

In Recreation 7 of the World Sequence, Bieber got here out of the bullpen and surrendered Will Smith‘s game-winning eleventh inning solo homer. It was his first reduction look since 2019.

Veteran righties Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer, who mixed to make 48 begins in 2025, are free brokers this offseason. Bieber selecting up his participant possibility means the Blue Jays have one much less rotation spot to fret about. With a complete offseason to go, Toronto’s 2026 rotation depth chart presently appears to be like like this:

1. RHP Kevin Gausman
2. RHP Trey Yesavage
3. RHP Shane Bieber
4. RHP José Berríos (missed the postseason with an elbow damage)
5. LHP Eric Lauer
6. RHP Bowden Francis (didn’t pitch after June 14 as a consequence of shoulder damage)
7. LHP Easton Lucas

The Blue Jays haven’t offered an replace on Berríos, who made at the least 30 begins yearly from 2022-25, since he was shut down for the postseason in September. Even when his damage is not going to lower into his availability subsequent yr, it could make sense for Toronto to pursue a beginning pitcher this winter. If Berríos will miss the beginning of 2026, one other starter can be crucial.

Along with addressing the rotation, the Blue Jays should both re-sign or change shortstop Bo Bichette, our third ranked free agent. Bullpen assist figures to be a precedence as effectively. Toronto went 94-68 this season and was the AL’s No. 1 seed. They misplaced the World Sequence to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven thrilling video games.