Less than 72 hours after the Toronto Blue Jays’ season ended in Game 7 of the World Series, their offseason abruptly began. Shane Bieber exercised a one-year, $16 million player option to remain with the Jays for the 2026 season, an early injection into the club’s rotation.

The decision kick-started Toronto’s winter as the Jays look to recapture the magic that brought them to baseball’s biggest stage this fall — two outs away from a title. It surprised many outside the organization and even some within the Blue Jays, as Bieber might have fetched more money on the open market. The early move sets up the rest of Toronto’s winter plans as free agency opens, with more looming decisions and holes to fill.

WELCOME BACK, BIEBS!

OFFICIAL: RHP Shane Bieber has exercised his player option for the 2026 season. pic.twitter.com/p9DEFD1InE

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) November 5, 2025

Another big rotation addition could arrive

Even with Bieber exercising his option, the Jays aren’t expected to be done in the rotation. Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage and Bieber could form the top of Toronto’s rotation, but there’s room for another significant addition. With Gausman and Bieber under contract for just one more year, the Jays could easily add a long-term contract to the starting group.

The biggest names in the rotation market are Dylan Cease, Ranger Suárez, Framber Valdez and Michael King. That’s the top tier the Jays will be interested in. Cease, who has made at least 32 starts in each of the last five years, fits Toronto’s traditional free-agent mold of a starter who consistently posts despite his production inconsistencies in recent years. Suárez or Valdez would add a southpaw to a Jays rotation group that is entirely right-handed. If the Jays fail to add a top-tier starter, Chris Bassitt and/or Max Scherzer could easily be welcomed back to Toronto’s clubhouse.

At the back of the rotation, a returning José Berríos should fill out the starting staff. After struggling down the stretch, pitching through elbow issues and failing to contribute to Toronto’s postseason run, he should be healthy enough to slot back into the rotation for 2026. Beyond Berríos, the Jays could push pitchers like Bowden Francis, Ricky Tiedemann, Chad Dallas, Jake Bloss (coming off Tommy John) and Gage Stanifer into traditional depth roles. That’s the kind of pitching depth the Jays have been hoping to build for years: a mix of high-upside starters and plenty of options in the upper minors. In 2026, they might finally have it.

Decisions on the offence, beyond Bichette

Offensive improvements aren’t a requirement for Toronto. The Jays finished fourth in runs scored in the regular season and cashed 33 more runs than any other team in October. The Jays could bring back free agent Bo Bichette, who clearly expressed interest in a reunion, and roll into 2026 with one of the game’s best lineups. If they spend big on the rotation, that might be exactly what happens.

But there are ways to improve the hitting group further or avenues to inject runs if Bichette walks. The Jays showed significant interest in lefty bats at the trade deadline, including outfielder Steven Kwan, a team source said. The Cleveland Guardians elected to hold on to Kwan and ultimately snuck into the postseason.

With two years of control remaining, Kwan wouldn’t be cheap, but he is the type of elite lefty contact bat that would fit perfectly between George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at the top of Toronto’s order. Though a returning Anthony Santander will make the Jays’ outfield busier, perhaps they’ll take another swing at Kwan or an additional left-handed bat.

Room for bullpen moves?

The Jays could, in theory, just run back the reliever group. Jeff Hoffman, Louis Varland, Brendon Little, Braydon Fisher, Mason Fluharty, Eric Lauer and Yariel Rodríguez are all under team control for 2026. Yimí Garcia and Nick Sandlin, who dealt with elbow injuries late in the regular season, are expected to be healthy for Opening Day, as well. That’s nine relievers right there.

But Toronto’s relief group logged a ridiculous number of innings in 2025. Little and Varland finished top 10 in bullpen appearances during the regular season, then continued pitching until November. Reliever variance is massive from year to year, and the Jays could add fresher arms to this group to help combat that in 2026. There are also internal candidates to jump into the bullpen when needed, like Tiedemann and Stanifer.

Key offseason dates

• Nov. 6: Free agency begins
• Nov. 11-13: General managers’ meetings; Las Vegas
• Nov. 21: Non-tender deadline
• Dec. 8-11: Winter Meetings; Orlando, Fla.
• Dec. 9: Amateur Draft Lottery
• Dec. 10: Rule 5 draft
• Jan. 9: Arbitration deadline
• Jan. 15: International signing period begins