Shane Bieber opts to remain with Jays after World Series run

We're not even three days into the offseason and the Blue Jays have secured a major spot in their starting rotation.

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Shane Bieber, acquired by the team at the 2025 trade deadline and an important player for the team moving forward, activated his player option to remain with the team through the 2026 season.

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Under the terms of the deal he originally signed with the Cleveland Guardians, Bieber will be paid US$16 million next season and will be included in a rotation that will likely include Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage and Jose Berrios, who missed the entire postseason while recovering from an elbow injury.

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A former Cy Young Award winner, Bieber had recovered from Tommy John surgery in 2024 and was returning to the major leagues at the time of the trade.

The decision, which was first reported by the publication New York PostJon Heyman, this is the first step towards stability in the Jays' rotation next season.

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In his seven regular season starts, Bieber had a solid 3.57 ERA. He made five postseason appearances, with a notable blemish coming when he came out of the bullpen to pitch the 11th inning in Game 7 of the World Series and gave up the game-clinching home run to Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

From the moment he joined the Jays, Bieber instantly connected with his new team and enjoyed the atmosphere in Toronto thanks to the team's energetic performance in September and October.

“This is a really special group,” Bieber said after Game 7 on Saturday at Rogers Center. “I'm grateful to be a part of this. This band is unlike anything I've ever been a part of, and it's a feeling we all share personally. This is very clear. There's a lot of love in this room.”

Bieber's decision is the first step in what promises to be another busy offseason for the Jays, who risk losing shortstop Bo Bichette and two other starters, Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer, to free agency. On Thursday, team president Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins will hold a postseason press conference to discuss the 2025 season, as well as plans for the offseason.