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By the People, for the People
Blue Jays Aim to Dominate with New Pitching Duo
Cease and Ponce bring power and versatility to Toronto's rotation
Published on Feb. 16, 2026
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The Toronto Blue Jays are entering the 2026 season with a revamped pitching staff, led by new additions Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce. The team is focused on enhancing its ability to consistently record outs through strikeouts, addressing a weakness from the previous season when the rotation accounted for only 55% of the team's total strikeouts while surrendering 67% of the home runs.
Why it matters
The signings of Cease and Ponce are central to the Blue Jays' strategy to improve their pitching staff and become a more dominant force in the league. Their ability to generate swings and misses is expected to significantly impact the team's overall performance, as the Blue Jays look to diversify their approach to recording outs and minimize the damage from home runs.
The details
Cease, who signed a seven-year, $210 million contract, has struck out at least 214 batters in each of the past five years. Ponce, who signed a three-year, $30 million deal, recorded 252 strikeouts in 180.2 innings in the Korean Baseball Organization. The team is also counting on Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios to contribute to the strikeout potential, with Bieber aiming to maintain his career average of 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings and Berrios looking to rebound from a challenging 2025 season.
- The Blue Jays are entering the 2026 season with their revamped pitching staff.
The players
Dylan Cease
A right-handed pitcher who has signed a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Blue Jays. Cease has struck out at least 214 batters in each of the past five years.
Cody Ponce
A right-handed pitcher who has signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Blue Jays. Ponce recorded 252 strikeouts in 180.2 innings in the Korean Baseball Organization.
Shane Bieber
A right-handed pitcher who is expected to add to the team's strikeout total, having averaged 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings throughout his career.
Jose Berrios
A right-handed pitcher who will focus on reversing a downward trend in his strikeout numbers and rebounding from a challenging second half of the previous season.
Kevin Gausman
A right-handed pitcher who is actively involved in the process of helping Ponce improve his fastball command, refine his slider, and utilize a unique kick change.
What’s next
The Blue Jays will closely monitor the progress and performance of their new pitching duo, Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, as they aim to lead the team's rotation and contribute to a more dominant pitching staff in the 2026 season.
The takeaway
The Blue Jays' focus on building a pitching staff that can consistently generate strikeouts and limit home runs represents a strategic shift that could make their rotation one of the most formidable in baseball. The additions of Cease and Ponce, along with the continued contributions of Bieber and Berrios, are expected to significantly improve the team's overall pitching performance and provide a strong foundation for their pursuit of success in the 2026 season.
