Shane Bieber finished strong enough to earn a Blue Jays return as the No. 5 starter. Myles Straw deserves a new deal, just not at $8 million.

Both decisions land on Ross Atkins this winter. Neither will steal headlines, but after a season wrecked by injuries, depth isn't optional.

Start with Bieber. He was much better late in the year, posting a 2.84 ERA over his final seven starts.

Nobody needs him to front the rotation. Dylan Cease leads it, with José Soriano, Cody Ponce and Trey Yesavage filling the middle once healthy.

As a fifth starter, he's a luxury most teams would love to have. And with the Red Sox already linked to him, the clock is ticking.

Straw is trickier. His club option looks steep for a player without much pop.

Myles Straw's versatility makes a cheaper deal worth chasing

But he finished strong. Straw posted a .410 on-base percentage over his final 30 games.

That's exactly what a manager wants from a No. 9 hitter, someone who turns the lineup over for the top of the order.

Where else can he play? Pretty much everywhere, from every outfield spot to a few infield positions, and he's even taken the mound.

He's also a clubhouse favourite. The Athletic's Mitch Bannon called him "maybe the best clubhouse guy on the team."

Decline the option and bring him back cheaper. Paying that price for a fifth outfielder is a luxury, but letting a glue guy walk over a few million dollars would be shortsighted.

Straw is duct tape. Nobody frames it on the wall, but every toolbox needs a roll.

Bieber carries real risk as well. Forearm fatigue and shoulder inflammation bookended his 2026, so any deal has to be short and protected.

Neither move fixes a lineup that finished last in runs. That's still the main event, and if Atkins misses on the big bat, these depth signings will look like rearranging deck chairs.