Shane Bieber is heading back into free agency, and this time he's fully healthy.

His two-year, $26 million deal, which included the $16 million player option he exercised to return this season, closes out five days after the World Series ends.

"I think it's kind of daunting," Bieber said of his upcoming free agency. "I haven't thought too much about it. I have no idea what my market's going to be like."

That uncertainty is well earned. He's coming off multiple IL stints and just 55.2 innings this year, the kind of profile that makes the industry hesitant, even with his pre-surgery track record as a former AL Cy Young winner who twice reached 200 innings.

He described the whole season in three words. "Weird, hot and cold, and frustrating."

Why his season swung so wildly from start to finish

He didn't make his first start until June 23, throwing just 3.2 innings as Toronto built him up slowly to protect against further injury.

His first four starts were mixed. Then in July, he found real rhythm, holding opponents to one run over 13 combined innings with nine strikeouts and two walks across two starts.

That stretch ended abruptly against Washington on July 28, his shortest career start, lasting just two-thirds of an inning with a career-worst six walks and four earned runs on one hit.

Bieber called it getting "space jammed" and did his best to throw the outing "in the trash." He bounced back with a strong four-start run, a 2.59 ERA and 3.63 FIP with 22 strikeouts and six walks over 24.1 innings.

Then, five days after his Aug. 20 start in Tampa Bay, he landed on the IL with teres major inflammation in his shoulder.

Had Toronto reached the playoffs, the plan had him returning as a multi-inning reliever, with a live batting practice session and abbreviated rehab start planned this week.

"Unfortunately, we just kind of fell short of the playoffs," Bieber said. "My plan was to make it back for the playoffs."

Without that final chance to prove his health to suitors, he heads to the open market with an underwhelming 4.37 ERA and 5.15 FIP over 11 starts, clouding his value further.

Adding to the uncertainty, MLB's current CBA expires in December, leaving teams less than a month to sign players once free agency opens before that deadline hits.

"I think everybody's going to approach it differently, but ultimately it's up to the teams," Bieber said. "Are they all going to be aggressive before the CBA expires? I have no clue."

For now, he's stepping back from the noise entirely, leaving the business side to his agent.

"To put my mind at ease, I'm just going to focus on taking care of my family and returning a favour," said Bieber, whose wife is expecting their second child in 2027. "They've always been so supportive, especially throughout the season."

When he does turn back to baseball, playing for a contender tops his priority list, followed closely by how a franchise treats its players and their families.

"I want to win. I want to be around good people," Bieber said. "I've been blessed to have been a part of two fantastic organizations, in terms of their ability to win, their priorities, the way they take care of families and treat people."

He was sold on Toronto during last year's World Series run, deciding within days of the Game 7 loss to opt back in for 2026. That feeling hasn't changed.

"I've been tested over the last few years, and I just want to continue to stay resilient," Bieber said. "I know there's so much that I can do and I can offer, and would love for that to be here."

A long-term deal has eluded him throughout his career, and his injury history makes another multi-year contract unlikely this winter. A one-year, prove-it deal, betting on himself again, looks like the realistic path forward, with plenty of interest expected but the destination still unwritten.