Story by
Toronto Blue Jays Awards: Two Blue Jays Up For Recognition
- Story by
- Toronto Blue Jays Awards: Two Blue Jays Up For Recognition
(Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images)
Monday was a very busy day across Major League Baseball as all 30 teams worked diligently to get their 40-man rosters set ahead of the 5 p.m. ET deadline. The Toronto Blue Jays made multiple roster moves but are now in compliance, and with that, the new league year has started.
The Blue Jays can sign free agents, make trades and conduct business as usual, at least until Dec. 2 when the probable lockout hits.
Advertisement
However, while the Jays front office is focusing on 2027, the league offices are wrapping up the 2026 season that was in the form of awards season.
We saw the Gold Glove Awards issued on Sunday night, and on Monday, two Blue Jays players learned they were up for additional recognition.
Right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease is a finalist for the American League Cy Young Award while reliever Louis Varland is up for the American League Reliever of the Year as well.
Dylan Cease
Cease finished second in the MLB Players Association Most Outstanding Pitcher Award, and he's expected to finish second here as well to New York Yankees' right-hander Cam Schlittler.
Advertisement
No matter what the result is though, it was an incredible season for the righty, who signed a seven-year deal last offseason worth $210 million.
Cease made 29 starts this season around two short injured list stints, going 11-6 with a 2.40 ERA. The Blue Jays had the fewest runs scored and fewest home runs in baseball this season, so Cease and the pitching staff were forced to carry the offense. And Cease certainly did his part.
He struck out 239 batters in just 169.0 innings, marking his sixth straight season of 200 strikeouts or more. He also led the American League in hits/9, strikeouts/9, and home runs/9.
Toronto Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease (84) delivers a pitch against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
He made the All-Star Game for the first time this season, earning the start for the American League, which was managed by Jays' skipper John Schneider. He already has two Top-5 Cy Young finishes in his career, and this will be a third.
Advertisement
He ended the year on the IL with shoulder inflammation but is expected to be healthy for spring training, whenever that is.
He'll headline next year's rotation alongside Jose Soriano, Trey Yesavage and Cody Ponce. The Jays will work to figure out their fifth slot through the rest of the offseason.
The Cy Young Award is announced on Nov. 11.
As for Varland
A 28-year-old native of Minnesota, Varland is now a five-year veteran of the Minnesota Twins and Blue Jays. The Blue Jays acquired him at the trade deadline in 2025 and he played an integral role in the team's run to the World Series, and he was even more important in 2026.
Advertisement
He appeared in 71 games, pitching to a 1.27 ERA in 78.0 innings. He struck out 97 hitters in that time, and his ability to go multiple innings was a huge advantage for his skipper.
Though he started the season as a set-up man, he had taken the closer's job from Jeff Hoffman by May, and he finished the year with 35 saves, also earning his first All-Star Game appearance.
With Hoffman traded at the deadline, Varland will have a clear path to the closer's role moving forward.
He was named to the Sporting News All-Star Game already this offseason.
This award also comes out on Nov. 11.
