The Toronto Blue Jays aren’t tiptoeing into the offseason - they’re diving in headfirst. With a combined $240 million committed to two new arms, Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, the Jays are making it clear: they’re not content with just reaching the World Series - they want to win it.
Let’s start with the headliner. Dylan Cease lands a seven-year, $210 million deal, signaling Toronto’s belief that he can be a long-term anchor in their rotation.
Cease brings high-octane stuff and the kind of upside that front offices dream about. He’s not just a plug-and-play starter - he’s a potential ace, and the Jays are betting big on his ability to lead their staff for the better part of the next decade.
Then there’s Cody Ponce, who signs on for three years and $30 million. While not as splashy as Cease, Ponce adds depth and reliability to the back end of the rotation.
For a team that just made a deep postseason run, that kind of stability matters. It’s not just about having stars - it’s about having innings covered, and Ponce gives them that.
But with these two signings, there’s a ripple effect - and it hits Max Scherzer.
According to former MLB GM Jim Bowden, Scherzer has made it clear he’d like to return to Toronto. But with $240 million already allocated to starting pitching this winter, the runway for a reunion is looking short. The Jays’ rotation is now crowded, and Scherzer’s spot may have already been filled.
There’s always the possibility of a trade - someone like José Berríos could be moved to make room - but that’s a big “if.” Right now, all signs point to Scherzer heading elsewhere.
The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer gave Toronto everything he had in 2025. His 5.19 ERA across 17 regular-season games doesn’t jump off the page, but his 3.77 ERA in the postseason told a different story - one of experience, grit, and clutch pitching when it mattered most. He helped guide the Blue Jays to the World Series, and for a while, it looked like a perfect match.
But baseball is a business, and timing is everything. With the Jays investing heavily in younger arms, the writing may be on the wall for Scherzer’s time in Toronto.
The San Francisco Giants are reportedly the frontrunners to land him, likely on a one-year deal. It’s not the ending Scherzer might’ve envisioned in Toronto, but it’s far from the end of the road. He’s still got something left in the tank - and there’s always a market for a veteran who knows how to pitch in October.
For now, the Blue Jays are moving forward with a new-look rotation built for both today and tomorrow. And while Scherzer’s chapter in Toronto may be closing, it was one that helped push the franchise to the brink of a title.