Blue Jays star Shane Bieber chooses his $16 million player option for 2026, Jon Heyman of The Post reports this.
Bieber will make $16 million in 2026, the final year of a two-year, $26 million contract he originally signed 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 I’ve been a part of,” Bieber said after the season. according to The Athletic. “That’s a feeling we all 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 it took him a while to return from the procedure.
Bieber won the American League Cy Young Award in 2020 while with the Guardians, going 8-1 with 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 will see him remain part of the pitching staff that includes Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Trey Yesavage, Eric Lauer and Bowden Francis.
The Blue Jays will have a lot of expectations heading into next season after a run to the World Series that came down to an extra-inning loss to the Dodgers in Game 7.
Bieber entered the game from the bullpen to pitch in relief and surrendered the go-ahead home run to Will Smith in the 11th inning.
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