Blue Jays urged to part ways with $110 million All-Star for Dylan Cease reason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Visit saltysenoritaaz.org for more information.
After falling just short of winning the World Series in 2025, the Toronto Blue Jays are not meeting expectations thus far this season.
Good health has not been on their side, as several members of the pitching staff have already spent time on the injured list.
Right-hander Dylan Cease, who signed a seven-year contract with the Blue Jays during the offseason, is not one of them. He's off to an excellent start with his new club, averaging 14.1 strikeouts per nine innings with a 2.87 ERA through six starts.
FanSided's Christopher Kline wrote on Wednesday that Cease's long-term contract and possible dominance could open a path to trading another front-line starter.
"Toronto inked Dylan Cease to a massive seven-year deal early in free agency, securing their ace of the future — and inadvertently setting the stage for a Kevin Gausman trade," Kline wrote. "The reigning AL champs are stuck in the mud right now. It should get better with more favorable health, but Toronto has dug a deep hole in an unforgiving division. The Yankees won't let their foot off the gas pedal any time soon."
MORE: How son Justin Crawford made history like his father, Carl, with Don Mattingly
Gausman, 35, is still a dependable pitcher but is playing on an expiring contract. He may be the first arm to be traded if the Blue Jays are out of contention at the trade deadline.
"The Blue Jays' primary workhorse can still shove. He has a 2.57 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 35.0 innings across six starts. Gausman's fastball lacks oomph, but his command — and the sheer nastiness of his splitter — allows him to dominate with essentially a two-pitch arsenal," Kline added. "Plenty of contenders will be happy to sacrifice meaningful prospect capital for a half-season (and hopefully an October run) with Gausman in their rotation."