Shane Bieber Opts In With the Blue Jays – Because Friendship Matters

Megan M · November 7, 2025

The power of friendship is worth millions, literally.

Shane Bieber opted in to his $16 million player option with the Toronto Blue Jays for 2026 on Tuesday, and it’s actually a huge deal, and a surprisingly wholesome one, too.

Everyone (and we mean everyone) is opting out

This offseason, most stars are choosing chaos. Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, Edwin Díaz, and Cody Bellinger all decided to test free agency.

Alonso made headlines for saying he would opt out minutes after the Mets lost their last game of the season to the Marlins, indirectly handing the Cincinnati Reds a spot in the Wild Card round.

Bieber, on the other hand, is running it back with the boys in blue (the Canadian ones, of course).

Why is this a surprise?

Bieber could’ve declined the option, taken a $4 million buyout, and made more on the open market.

The right-hander had a solid regular season in 2025 coming off Tommy John, posting a 3.57 ERA in 40.1 innings pitched with 37 strikeouts and a 1.02 WHIP. In the postseason, he delivered a 3.86 ERA over 18.2 innings while striking out 18 batters.

Eli Ben-Porat of Baseball America projected Bieber would earn a $150 million contract, noting, “There’s an argument to be made that Bieber is the best available starting pitcher in this year’s class.”

But instead, Bieber locked in $16 million to stay in Toronto. For a couple of reasons, it makes perfect sense:

Health first. Bieber’s coming off Tommy John surgery. Taking the guaranteed money gives him another year to prove his arm’s fully back before chasing a long-term deal.
The vibes are immaculate. This Blue Jays team isn’t just talented; they actually like each other. Each interview through the postseason proved this Jays team enjoyed playing together, and they clearly want to continue playing as a unit.
Toronto benefits big-time. With Bieber locked in, the Jays have the majority of their starting rotation set. They can set their sights on big free agents, re-signing Bo Bichette, addressing gaps in the bullpen, and making another run at the World Series.

So what does this mean for Toronto?

It’s a signal. One that Toronto desperately needed.

When a Cy Young winner says, “I’ll stay,” it tells the rest of the league that Toronto isn’t just a contender, it’s a place people want to play. One could even say it’s a place where people ‘finally’ want to play, given that just last year an anonymous player slipped that the Blue Jays organization is a "f*cking shitshow,"

That matters for recruiting free agents, keeping stars, and maintaining that culture everyone’s raving about.

And if you’re a fan, you’ve got to love this: The Jays were two outs away from a championship, and now they keep one of their top arms and a good chunk of their core intact. That’s continuity. That’s chemistry. That’s… maybe finally the year?