Two Toronto Blue Jays pitchers have been named finalists in their respective year-end awards, as Dylan Cease is one of three finalists for the American League Cy Young award, while Louis Varland is one of three finalists for the AL Reliever of the Year Award.
Both award finalists were announced by the Baseball Writers of America in a broadcast on MLB Network.
Cease, 30, dazzled in his first season with the Blue Jays after signing a seven-year deal worth $210 million in the offseason - the largest contract given to a free agent in franchise history.
He delivered on that contract in a big way - throwing to a 2.40 earned-run average with 239 strikeouts, second-most in the AL, despite throwing just 169.0 innings.
Cease led the AL in complete game shutouts (1), fielding-independent pitching (2.56), hits allowed per nine innings (5.8), home runs allowed per nine innings (0.6), and strikeouts per nine innings (12.7).
This is the second time in Cease’s career he has been named a Cy Young finalist - he finished second in 2022 while a member of the Chicago White Sox. He also finished fourth in voting in 2024 in his first season with the San Diego Padres.
The other two finalists for the AL Cy Young award are New York Yankees righty Cam Schlittler and Cleveland Guardians righty Parker Messick.
The Cy Young award has been given to a Blue Jays pitcher five times - first in 1996 to Pat Hentgen, then twice to Roger Clemens (1997 and 1998). Roy Halladay took home the award in 2003 and Robbie Ray won the award in 2021.
Varland, 28, put together one of the finest seasons by a relief pitcher in franchise history, pitching to a dazzling 1.27 ERA with 97 strikeouts over 78.0 innings pitched. He collected 35 saves after he was promoted to the closer’s role near the end of April.
Varland was one of three Blue Jays to be named to the All-Star team, alongside Cease and second baseman Ernie Clement.
The righty would be the first pitcher in Blue Jays franchise history to take home the honour.
The other two finalists for AL reliever of the Year are Bryan Baker of the Tampa Bay Rays and Canadian righty Cade Smith of the Guardians.