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Still a member of Blue Jays, Shane Bieber bounces back in first start following deadline
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Photo credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Aug 4, 2026, 16:59 EDTUpdated: Aug 4, 2026, 17:00 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays had themselves an active trade deadline, but one player who remained following their flurry of moves was Shane Bieber. 
A free agent at season’s end after opting into his $16-million player option, Bieber was a prime candidate to be moved as the Blue Jays fell further out of contention, and his contract is set to expire. 
Two strong starts against the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, in which Bieber allowed only one run across 13 innings, felt like the perfect precursor to him being moved. That was until Bieber failed to make it out of the first inning against the Washington Nationals in his final start before the deadline. 
Bieber picked up the loss after turning in a pitching line of 0.2 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 0 K. The six walks set a Blue Jays franchise record for walks in a single inning, and really put a damper on the momentum he was riding into the deadline. 
The 31-year-old entered the 6 p.m. EST trade deadline with a 2-2 record, a 5.74 ERA, and a 1.63 WHIP, but was ultimately held onto by the Blue Jays as they sold off two other pending free agents. 
Bieber responded by taking the mound Monday night in the Blue Jays’ first game following the deadline. The righty picked up the win over the Houston Astros after turning in a pitching line of 5.2 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K. The six strikeouts were a season high for Bieber as he often wiggled his way out of a jam by recording a punchout at key moments. 
Following his outing on Monday, Bieber is now 3-2 with a 5.11 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP across his eight starts. During his eight outings, Bieber has struck out 28, walked 20, and allowed an opponents batting average of .284. 
During his time in Toronto, after being acquired at the 2025 trade deadline, Bieber has made 15 regular season starts and has gone 7-4 with a 4.31 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Although he missed much of the first half due to right elbow inflammation, Bieber has taken the ball every fifth day since being activated from the injured list on June 23. 
Bieber’s presence is a draw, and he should be motivated more as he tries to set himself up for his next contract. With around 10 scheduled starts to go for Bieber, the remainder of the 2026 season could be the difference in setting the right-hander up with a qualifying offer, short-term contract, or long-term deal as he prepares to enter the winter as an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career.
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