Blue Jays predicted to sign $135M Cy Young-caliber arm to form trio with Max Scherzer, Kevin Gausman

Hunter Cookston

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Blue Jays predicted to sign $135M Cy Young-caliber arm to form trio with Max Scherzer, Kevin Gausman image

The Toronto Blue Jays are gearing up for the ALCS, where they will face off against the Seattle Mariners. Both teams will be tough to knock off, but the Blue Jays should hold an advantage after the Mariners played a grueling 15-inning game on Friday. Additionally, the Blue Jays have a very solid starting rotation that will be further reinforced with the additions of Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt.

“Speaking of rotations, Bassitt and Scherzer return after being left out of the ALCS picture. Scherzer was omitted since manager John Schneider felt the veteran didn’t match up well against the Yankees in particular, while Bassitt wasn’t fully recovered from a bout of back tightness that sent him to the 15-day injured list on September 19. The Jays felt they could navigate the five-game ALDS with only three starters (Gausman, Yamaguchi, Bieber) on the roster, and that proved to be the case, as the relief corps stepped up with a big bullpen-game performance in the clinching Game 4,” MLB Rumors’ Mark Polishuk wrote.

After this postseason, the Blue Jays will face a big decision regarding Bo Bichette.

“Bo Bichette might be the most interesting free agent on the market this winter,” Blue Jays writer Keegan Matheson wrote.

The Blue Jays are also likely to add another starter to bolster their rotation further.

“The Toronto Blue Jays lineup has demonstrated in October that it has what it takes to make a deep postseason run. To become a perennial World Series contender, though, more starting pitching is needed. Toronto’s starters ranked 20th in ERA (4.34) during the regular season, and while adding Shane Bieber helped, Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer are about to hit the open market. So, keeping in mind Bieber’s durability risk, the Blue Jays will open up the wallet, poaching Dylan Cease from the San Diego Padres. Dylan Cease contract prediction: 5 years, $135 million,” Sportsnaut’s Matt Johnson wrote.

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Cease is a powerful arm who can be untouchable at times. However, he hasn’t had a season close to the one when he nearly won the Cy Young Award.

If the Blue Jays add him, it could provide extra rest for the veteran pitchers. Having Cease in Toronto for five seasons would be a huge boost for the team.

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Hunter Cookston

Hunter Cookston began his career as a sportswriter for the Marion Tribune, where he covered local high school football, basketball and baseball. His passion for sports started at the age of four when he played his first year of tee ball. Growing up in Tennessee, he developed a deep love for the Tennessee Volunteers and Atlanta Braves. Hunter is currently attending Tennessee Wesleyan University, where he is pursuing a BA in Sports Communications/Management.