In perhaps a precursor to the American League Cy Young Award voting, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease was not named as the Most Outstanding American League Pitcher of the Year, falling in the voting to Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees.

The awards are voted on by the MLB Players Association.

Regardless of result, it was a great first season in Toronto for Cease, who signed a seven-year, $210 million deal last offseason.

The right-hander made 29 starts 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.

An eight-year veteran of the Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres and Blue Jays, he's 76-64 in his career with a 3.67 ERA. 

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 ended the year on the IL with shoulder inflammation but is expected to be healthy for spring training.

The 25-year-old Massachusetts native made his major league debut in 2025 and has taken the league by storm ever since. Armed with a fastball in the upper-90s, he went 14-6 with a minuscule 1.95 ERA this season, also striking out 239 batters. In 193.2 innings, he had a WHIP of just 0.92. He was a major reason why the Yankees won the American League East and advanced to the American League Division Series, where they were beaten by the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Milwaukee Brewers currently lead the Rays 3-1 in the World Series with Game 5 set to come on Wednesday night.

If the Rays win, the series will shift back to Milwaukee for Game 6 on Friday, but if the Rays lose, the season is over.

Once the season ends, the pending free agents for the Blue Jays will officially exit the 40-man roster. The Blue Jays will then have five days to get their 40-man roster in compliance and free agency will begin.

However, it's unclear how active free agency will be in November as a result of the looming MLB lockout.