logo
3 things Blue Jays fans should be thankful for
alt
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Oct 12, 2026, 15:11 EDT
Comments
While the 2026 season didn’t go the way anyone surrounding the Toronto Blue Jays organization would have liked, the club still has many pieces that give fans reasons to believe that better is on the horizon. 
In honour of Thanksgiving, now is a great time to look at three elements of the Blue Jays that fans have to be thankful for. 
The addition of Dylan Cease 
Signed to a seven-year, $210-million contract last winter, the Blue Jays got everything and more they could have hoped for from the right-hander. Cease instantly jumped in and led the Blue Jays’ rotation, giving them almost an elite outing every time he toed the rubber. 
Through 29 starts, Cease went 11-6 with a 2.40 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. Cease struck out 239 batters, tied for third-most in MLB, and held opponents to a .180 average across 169 innings pitched. Cease’s opponents average trailed only Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers and really showcased the dominance he displayed. 
Cease spent the majority of the regular season locked in a two-horse race for the American League Cy Young Award with New York Yankees ace Cam Schlittler. Unfortunately, Cease faded down the stretch as he dealt with right shoulder inflammation that ultimately ended his season following a start against the Texas Rangers on September 18. 
The 2026 season had its fair share of disappointments, but the decision by the Blue Jays management could go down as one of their best additions. 
Louis Varland’s dominance 
Acquired by the Blue Jays on July 31, 2025, from the Minnesota Twins alongside Ty France in exchange for Alan Roden and Kendry Rojas, Varland originally struggled upon joining Toronto, as the right-hander pitched to a 4.94 ERA over 23 regular season appearances. 
After a postseason run that saw Varland become an integral part of the Blue Jays’ bullpen, the flamethrowing reliever was utterly dominant in 2026. Varland pitched in 71 games and went 5-6 with a 1.27 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. Varland struck out 97 batters across 78 innings, limited opponents to a .196 average, and tied for fifth among all closers with 35 saves. 
Varland didn’t open the season as the Blue Jays’ closer, but after Jeff Hoffman pitched to a 7.45 ERA over the month of April and blew two saves, the Blue Jays opted for a change. Varland recorded his first save on April 21 during a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels, and from that night forward, the 28-year-old solidified himself as one of the best arms in the game. 
The Blue Jays have Varland under team control until the completion of the 2030 season, so Varland has the opportunity to climb his way up Toronto’s all-time saves leaderboard. 
Kazuma Okamoto’s rookie season
Coming off their run to the World Series, the Blue Jays signed Okamoto to a four-year, $60-million contract after he spent 11 seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball. Okamoto did nothing but impress, finishing the year by appearing in 156 games and batting .232 with 33 home runs and 92 RBIs. 
Okamoto surpassed Eric Hinske’s record of 24 home runs and 84 RBIs that he set in 2002 to etch his name in the Blue Jays’ franchise record books for most home runs and RBIs in a season by a rookie. 
The 30-year-old led the Blue Jays in home runs, RBIs, slugging, OPS, and walks in his first test against MLB pitching, and it’s hard to envision how much worse this lineup would have been if they didn’t have Okamoto’s bat. 
On September 8, Okamoto became the fifth Japanese-born player to reach 30 home runs in the season, when he took Athletics right-hander Jack Perkins yard. Okamoto joined Hideki Matsui, Shohei Ohtani, Seiya Suzuki, and Munetaka Murakami as players to reach this mark. 
For his efforts, Okamoto was named to Baseball America’s 2026 MLB All-Rookie Team, and as the Blue Jays look for more success in 2027, Okamoto will be a big piece in providing slug to an offence that will need to be a lot better than it was this past season.

PRESENTED BY THE PERFECT 9 COLLECTION

Some baseball traditions never get old. The Perfect 9 Collection is our newest limited-edition collaboration with Blue Jays Today, inspired by the viral 9/9/9 challenge that has become a staple of baseball culture. Whether you’re taking on the challenge or just enjoying a day at the ballpark, this collection celebrates the moments that make baseball unforgettable. Featuring premium Levelwear apparel with elevated fabrics and modern fits, it’s designed for fans who live and breathe the game—on game day and beyond. Limited edition. Premium quality. Built for baseball fans. Shop the Perfect 9 Collection while it lasts. Exclusively at nationgear.ca


Editorials
MORE NEWS. IN YOUR INBOX.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Breaking News