A Blue Jays return to the World Series next year won't be easy, but fans have hope

After a tough Game 7 loss on Saturday, Blue Jays fans were still licking their World Series wounds this week, until a curious move by one of the team's top pitchers caught their attention.

Starter Shane Bieber, who joined the Jays in July, on Wednesday exercised a $16-million US player option to stay with the team, though many baseball watchers say the 30-year-old could've seen a much higher payday had he chosen free agency.

And just like that, fans have hope that Toronto could make another run at the World Series next year.

"I was absolutely shocked," said Blue Jays superfan Lesley Mak, who's nonetheless delighted to hear Bieber, a past Cy Young winner, will be back.

"It means he believes in the team, it means the team has shown belief in him," she said, adding that it confirms all that's been reported about the camaraderie among the current Blue Jays.

Some baseball observers have suggested Bieber is likely not the only member of the roster fired up about the possibility of a do-over after coming so close to a World Series win last weekend.

The Jays themselves were clearly heartbroken the extra innings loss in Game 7.

"I’ve been crying, for, like, probably for an hour," said Ernie Clement on Saturday. "I thought I was done with the tears, but I just love these guys so much."

Star slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., speaking through a translator, noted that losing Game 7 wasn't the way they intended to end the season and made a vow.

"We lost one battle, but we haven't lost the war," he said. "We've got to move forward. I'm very proud of myself, my teammates, and we'll be back."

"I actually think that these guys from the Blue Jays, the tight-knit group, they want to run it back," said former major leaguer Sean Casey,