Shane Bieber opts in to stay with Blue Jays after run to World Series

Blue Jays star Shane Bieber is opting into his $16 million player option for 2026, The Post’s Jon Heyman reported. 

Bieber will make $16 million in 2026, the final year of a two-year, $26 million contract that he originally inked with the Guardians last winter. 

Had he declined his player option, Bieber would have received a $4 million buyout. 

“This group is unlike any other that I’ve been a part of,” Bieber said following the season, per The Athletic. “That’s a sentiment that we all kind of shared.”

The Guardians traded Bieber to the Blue Jays on July 31, and the right-handed starter made seven starts in the regular season following the trade, posting a 4-2 record with a 3.57 ERA and a 1.017 WHIP. 

During the playoffs, Bieber went 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.446 WHIP. 

However, Bieber was recovering from Tommy John surgery when he arrived in Toronto and took some time before he returned from the procedure. 

Bieber won the American League Cy Young Award in 2020 while with the Guardians, going 8-1 and posting a 1.63 ERA during the COVID-19 shortened season. 

Over the course of his career, Bieber has gone 66-34 in 141 starts with a 3.24 ERA and 995 strikeouts, while also making two All-Star appearances.

Bieber’s decision to remain in Toronto keeps him as part of a pitching staff that includes Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Trey Yesavage, Eric Lauer and Bowden Francis. 

The Blue Jays will have plenty of expectations on them going into next season after a run to the World Series that came down to an extra-innings loss to the Dodgers in Game 7. 

Bieber came into the game out of the bullpen to pitch in relief and surrendered the go-ahead home run to Will Smith in the 11th inning.