Shane Bieber returning to Blue Jays after exercising $16M US option in contract

Starting pitcher Shane Bieber will return to the Toronto Blue Jays next season.

The team says he has exercised his $16 million US player option for the 2026 campaign.

Bieber will serve as one of the anchors of the Blue Jays' rotation.

He made seven regular-season starts for Toronto after being acquired from the Cleveland Guardians at the trade deadline, posting a 4-2 record and 3.57 earned-run average.

Bieber was 2-1 in the post-season with a 3.86 ERA. He earned a Game 4 road win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.

He pitched in relief in Game 7 and gave up a go-ahead home run to Will Smith in the 11th inning of the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss.