SF Giants robbed of ideal starting pitcher option after contract decision

The SF Giants are going to need to add some starting pitchers before the 2026 season, and one potential target is already off the board in Toronto Blue Jays starter Shane Bieber. He decided to stay in Toronto by exercising his $16 million player option.

The move was a bit of a surprise given he almost certainly would have earned more had he tested free agency, but it seems Bieber was content to stay with the Blue Jays after they came oh so close to winning it all in the 2025 season.

SF Giants cannot sign Shane Bieber after contract decision

Bieber was working his way back from Tommy John surgery for most of 2025 which limited him to just seven starts in the regular season. In those seven starts he had a 3.57 ERA across 40 and 1/3 innings pitched. He had 37 strikeouts compared to 7 walks.

The 30-year-old pitched fairly well in the playoffs as he had a 3.86 ERA across five outings. He had a solid start in Game 4 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers as he went 5 and 1/3 innings while only giving up one run. However, he did give up what proved to be the game-winning run in Game 7 on a homer to catcher Will Smith.

Bieber would have been a good fit for the Giants especially given president of baseball operations Buster Posey and the front office are probably going to have to deal with some financial constraints from chairman Greg Johnson.

Johnson has said the team is going to be very careful when considering giving a free agent pitcher a nine-figure contract. That may prevent the team from going after some of the bigger arms on the free agent market.

Bieber would have fallen more into San Francisco's price range as someone who may have commanded a three-year, $60 million contract which may have been more doable for the Giants. Alas, they will have to turn their sights elsewhere.

Perhaps going after Bieber's teammate in 2025, veteran Max Scherzer who plans to pitch in 2026, would be a good move. He and new Giants manager Tony Vitello are friends and he would certainly not break the bank at this stage in his career.

Bieber might have been an ideal option for the Giants, but his decision to remain in Toronto means there is one less option for them as they peruse the free agent pool.