Dylan Cease got paid.Here's how it could shape the Blue Jays late in the winter - The Athletic

If there was ever a time to find time to pay, it might be now.

Dylan signed the highest contract in the history of the Franchise, the same person who is responsible for the Toronto blue jays as of this winter.One person moves to the starting position, the franchise does this.

Gays signed a primary starting pitcher as his biggest offseason priority.After the deal, perhaps the best starter on the free agent market, the best starter at $210 million over seven years, that box is checked.

But from the first and the first is far.

The bullpen still needs a back, with Bichette and Kyle Tucker remaining free agents, and the rotation may need more movement.

The most obvious next priority would be to bring back Bichette.At his end-of-season press conference, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins confirmed the team will be on his market this winter.

Stopping signing Bichette, but with Erie Clement, Andres Gimenez and Advison Bargers available for IDIDS positions, keeping Bichette is not a mandatory move.Instead, Toronto could use a utility option like Jorge Polanco or just shoot the Jays in 2026 with a trio of 0 hits.After Bichette to the World Series.

The Jazz have also been frequently linked to top free agent hitter Tucker this winter.With George Springer entering his final year at the helm, the 28-year-old four-time All-Star could usher in a new outfield anchor like Tucker.While it's hard to separate posturing from real strategies at this point in the offseason, there's less buzz around Tucker in the Blue Jays organization.

One area the Jays will almost certainly address is the bullpen.Although Toronto has plenty of depth in relief and currently has Louis Varland, Jeff Hoffman and Jimmy Garcia, league sources said the Jays expressed interest in backfield help earlier this month at the GM meetings in Las Vegas.Toronto met with top free agent prospect Edwin Diaz, the athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

The stop may not even be the final spiral movement. With Cease, Toronto should have one of the best rotations in baseball in 2026.Last year, only eight teams had a higher war of all their initial staff. Blue Jays is ranked 23 in rotary battles with only 8.5 points.

There is a chance for Arms or another version of Swentman like Eric Lauer.With Bieber a few Tommy John and music recovery coming out big in his life, the depth of the bones will be the key in 2026.

Trading can open up more money and places to line up.

While Berríos has been one of the most reliable starters in baseball for his entire career, actually posting a .417 season, he suffered an elbow injury and lost his spot in the rotation at the end of the year.He is worth $18.7 million in 2026 before the player's pick, the Jays could look for berryos after four years in Toronto.Although he is still 31 years old with the Jays, he needs to find a rotation again in the spring, another reason to provide more depth.

Whatever direction they go in, the Jays have already shown some aggressiveness.Cease was the top-rated right-handed pitcher on the Big 50 free agent board, and the second-highest rated pitcher behind Framber Valdez.

The Jays have made a big splash in free agency in recent years.It signed Springer for $150 million before 2021 and Gausman for $100 million next winter.But a few months after giving Vladimir Guerrero Jr. a $500 million extension, the Blue Jays have shown their willingness to show their financial prowess once again.

The Blue Jays have never spent more than a third of their competitive balance sheet threshold, just missing the $281 million cap hit in 2025. According to Cot's Contract, Toronto's 40-man collective tax is projected to be around $235 million in 2026 before the interim agreement.The Jays are now just $20 million past the third threshold.

Cease could end up being Toronto's biggest addition this winter.However, another significant signing would push the Jays over the edge.

If ever there was a time to reach uncharted Payroll territory, it might be now.

The Jays have been coming off franchise World Series appearances since 1993 and after 2002, Guber and David could go up to $70 million off the books.