The Toronto Blue Jays have been busy since they lost game seven of the 2025 World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The team announced earlier this week that starting pitcher Shane Bieber has exercised his player option for the 2026 season. He’ll remain a Toronto Blue Jay for the 2026 MLB season, earning just $16 million.
On Thursday, the team announced that they extended a qualifying offer to infielder Bo Bichette. While it’s likely Bichette signs a new deal in Toronto, the free agent market is lucrative.
The Blue Jays acquired the former Cy Young winner from the Cleveland Guardians at the 2025 trade deadline. Bieber was in the final stages of his recovery from Tommy John surgery that cut his 2024 season short. He would go on to make four minor league appearances and seven appearances with the Blue Jays before the postseason.
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Bieber, 30, has eight MLB seasons under his belt with a career ERA of 3.24. His five postseason appearances for the Blue Jays in 2025 helped propel the team to the World Series.
A full season recovered from Tommy John surgery will be a big move for the Blue Jays starter. Bieber gets a chance to net himself a bigger contract while playing for a strong team in 2026.
He joins Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, and Jose Barrios as starters under contract with Toronto for the 2025 season. Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer became free agents this offseason, and their status remains undecided.
In Bichette’s case, free agency could lure him away if the money is right, but the Blue Jays clubhouse culture has shifted. With a World Series appearance and a shift to second base, the team could be willing to pay Bichette extra to lock him up long-term.
Should the Blue Jays lose Bichette in free agency, it wasn’t for lack of trying. Bichette’s qualifying offer is worth $22.05 million and gives Bichette until November 18th to accept that offer or sign a different contract. If he doesn’t accept the offer, he will enter unrestricted free agency for the first time.
Pitchers Angel Bastardo, Bowden Francis, Yimi García, Nick Sandlin, and Robinson Pina were reinstated from the 60-day IL. Pina when assigned outright to Triple-A.
Catcher Brandon Valenzuela was selected to the Major League roster, protecting him from December’s Rule 5 Draft.
Relief pitchers Ryan Burr and Dillon Tate both cleared waivers and became free agents.
The Toronto Blue Jays also have Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, Seranthony Dominguez, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Ty France for players on their free agent list. It will be an interesting offseason for the Blue Jays as they look to beef up their bullpen and add depth to their overall roster.
