One day after the Blue Jays had five players in the mix for Gold Glove honors, Toronto learned that only one of its own made the cut for the 2026 Players Choice Award finalists: Dylan Cease.
Cease was named a finalist for the MLBPA’s American League Outstanding Pitcher Award, joining Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees and Sonny Gray of the Boston Red Sox. It’s another piece of recognition for a pitcher who turned in a massive first year in Toronto after signing a seven-year, $210 million deal last December.
The right-hander delivered exactly the kind of season that gets noticed around the league. He went 11-6 with a 2.40 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP in 29 starts, punched out 239 batters, and limited opponents to a .180 average. Cease is also expected to factor into this year’s AL Cy Young Award race.
An Outstanding first year as a Blue Jay 👨🏻Dylan Cease is a Finalist for the @MLBPA’s Outstanding Pitcher Award! pic.twitter.com/sdFhx0A6tO
Toronto did not get a second finalist on the players’ ballot, though, and that’s where the surprise came in. Kazuma Okamoto, coming off a debut MLB season that led the Blue Jays with 33 home runs and included a league-best rookie total of 92 RBI, was left out of the outstanding rookie category.
Okamoto’s first year still packed plenty of production. He added 81 runs, 26 doubles and 132 hits, and his power was a real lift for a Toronto lineup that needed it. He was also named a finalist for the MLB All-Rookie Team.
Instead, the MLBPA’s rookie finalists were Munetaka Murakami of the Chicago White Sox, Kevin McGonigle of the Detroit Tigers and Parker Messick of the Cleveland Guardians. Chase DeLauter, who is now in the middle of a breakout postseason with the Guardians, also missed out.
There’s a case that Okamoto’s 183 strikeouts and .232/.310/.452 slash line worked against him in a crowded AL rookie field. Even so, his debut season was encouraging, and the Blue Jays should have plenty to like heading into next year as he adjusts further to the majors and life in North America.
Cease’s selection also keeps Toronto’s Players Choice finalist total in line with last year’s showing. In 2025, after the Blue Jays won 94 games, finished first in the AL East and reached the World Series, their only finalist was Chris Bassitt, who was up for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year leadership award. Brent Suter of the Cincinnati Reds won that honor.
For Toronto, the Cease nomination is the headline, and it comes with some company worth noting. Both Cease and Okamoto remain under contract with the Blue Jays for 2027 and beyond, and the Players Choice Award winners will be announced during the week of Oct. 26.
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Now the focus shifts to what comes next, and whether a postseason procedure can help clear up some of what bothered him throughout the year. Toronto has watched other clubs keep playing deep into October with stars carrying the load, while the Blue Jays are left hoping Guerrero can rediscover the force that makes their lineup work in the first place. The next answer matters because if he is not right, the lineup still has a long way to go. [Read more 🡒]