The Toronto Blue Jays aim to restore Dylan Cease to his peak pitching ability following his two-year period with the San Diego Padres. This offseason, the Blue Jays committed to Cease with a seven-year, $210 million contract, signaling their high expectations for the right-handed pitcher.
According to MLB insider Tom Verducci, Toronto intends to apply a strategy to Cease that mirrors the approach they successfully used with former Blue Jays pitcher Robbie Ray.
Adapting a Proven Pitching Development Method
Verducci emphasized the team’s enthusiasm for Cease’s potential, pointing out that his past results have not yet matched his evident talent and pitching arsenal. He highlighted the significant reliance Cease places on breaking pitches, noting,
“Throws a ton of breaking pitches. For me, he doesn’t throw nearly enough strikes. So their plan, I call it the Robbie Ray plan. Remember when they traded for Robbie Ray from Arizona? And they got him back into the strike zone and they had him throw more fastballs. That’s going to be the same plan with Dylan Cease.”
— Tom Verducci, MLB insider
This approach aims to improve Cease’s command and increase his fastball usage, a tactic that produced outstanding outcomes for Ray after joining Toronto.
Robbie Ray’s Success as a Blueprint
Robbie Ray’s transformation stands as a promising example for Cease’s potential development. In his first full season with the Blue Jays, Ray achieved a 13-7 record while leading the American League in ERA (2.84), strikeouts (248), and WHIP (1.045) over 32 starts and 193.1 innings pitched. His improvements indicate the possible benefits of the Blue Jays’ approach for Cease as well.
Cease’s Recent Performance and Expectations
In the 2025 season, Cease recorded an 8-0 win-loss record with a 4.55 ERA across 32 starts for the San Diego Padres. His strikeout rate was 29.8 percent, slightly higher than his career average of 28.6 percent in the major leagues. While it is uncertain whether the same adjustments will yield comparable success for Cease, the Blue Jays are optimistic given their prior experience with Ray’s turnaround.
Looking Ahead for the Blue Jays’ Pitching Staff
The implementation of the “Robbie Ray plan” for Dylan Cease marks a significant development in the Blue Jays’ pitching strategy. Should Cease respond positively to the increased emphasis on fastballs and strike command, Toronto could see a considerable boost in their rotation’s effectiveness. This plan not only reflects the team’s confidence in Cease’s abilities but also underscores their commitment to optimizing their investment in his long-term performance.
“I call it the Robbie Ray plan…”
Tom Verducci thinks the Blue Jays can optimize Dylan Cease's stuff the same way they transformed Robbie Ray ahead of his Cy Young season back in 2021. pic.twitter.com/ilh7w4n502
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 19, 2026
