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After a tough Game 7 loss on Saturday, Blue Jays fans were still licking their World Series wounds this week, until a curious move by one of the team's top pitchers caught their attention.

Starter Shane Bieber, who joined the Jays in July, on Wednesday exercised a $16-million US player option to stay with the team, though many baseball watchers say the 30-year-old could've seen a much higher payday had he chosen free agency.

And just like that, fans have hope that Toronto could make another run at the World Series next year.

"I was absolutely shocked," said Blue Jays superfan Lesley Mak, who's nonetheless delighted to hear Bieber, a past Cy Young winner, will be back.

"It means he believes in the team, it means the team has shown belief in him," she said, adding that it confirms all that's been reported about the camaraderie among the current Blue Jays.

Some baseball observers have suggested Bieber is likely not the only member of the roster fired up about the possibility of a do-over after coming so close to a World Series win last weekend.

The Jays themselves were clearly heartbroken the extra innings loss in Game 7.

Alejandro Kirk, the last batter up for the Blue Jays in the bottom of the eleventh inning of Game 7 last Saturday, hit into a double play to end the game, with Toronto losing 5-4 to th