THE SIDELINES : Blue Jays Renew Stieb’s Option

TORONTO — The Blue Jays today exercised the 1990 option in the contract of right-hander Dave Stieb for $1.6 million.

Under the terms of Stieb’s contract, signed in March, 1985, the team had until Thursday to renew his option for 1990 or buy out the contract for $800,000.

His salary for the 1990 season would have been guaranteed automatically if Stieb had pitched in 225 or more innings in 1989, but he pitched 206 2/3 innings last season.

Stieb was 17-8 in 1989 with a 3.35 earned-run average. He is the club’s all-time leader in several categories: victories (148), strikeouts (1,432) and complete games (99).