"Bieber, winner of the 2020 AL Cy Young Award, made just two starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. He was still rehabbing when the Blue Jays acquired him at the trade deadline from the Cleveland Guardians. They believed he could raise the ceiling of their starting rotation when he finally returned-and they were right. The right-hander pitched to a 3.57 ERA and 1.017 WHIP in seven starts down the stretch."
"Bieber picking up his $16 million player option for 2026 was the real surprise. Many presumed he'd test the open market after a successful comeback, especially since he would be owed a $4 million buyout for his efforts. This led some to worry that perhaps Bieber wasn't completely healthy. Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins amplified these concerns when he suggested the team would take things "a week at a time" with Bieber moving forward."
"Probably not the version of him who struck out 259 batters in 2019 or put up a 1.63 ERA during the COVID-shortened season. Most pitchers' stats from that time are skewed due to the then-widespread use of sticky tack that MLB has since banned. That younger version of Bieber also averaged 94.1 mph on his fastball, compared to 92.6 mph in 2025."
Shane Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery after two 2024 starts and was acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays while still rehabbing. He returned late in 2025 and posted a 3.57 ERA and 1.017 WHIP across seven starts, striking out nearly one batter per inning while limiting walks. Bieber unexpectedly exercised a $16 million player option for 2026, despite expectations he would test free agency and a $4 million buyout. Concerns about his long-term health persisted after GM Ross Atkins said the team would take his recovery "a week at a time." Reduced velocity from 94.1 mph to 92.6 mph suggests 2023-level performance is a realistic projection.
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