Shushkewich: What are the options for the Blue Jays' rotation in 2027?
Right-hander Dylan Cease will return as the ace of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2027 (if there is a season).
October 30, 2026
By Tyson Shushkewich
Canadian Baseball Network
The Toronto Blue Jays used more than 16 different pitchers in the starting role last season, ranging from Dylan Cease and his 29 outings to the handful of names who helped carry the club through bullpen games and spot starts after being acquired off the waiver wire.
Toronto’s rotation wasn’t the biggest issue facing the Jays during their disappointing 2026 campaign, but finding some additional stability in the starting five is certainly something the club should consider.
Whether that means pursuing a starter or two on the free-agent market, with names like Tarik Skubal and Freddy Peralta potentially leading the charge, or identifying a few internal options who can cement their place in the rotation, there are several avenues the organization could explore.
Here’s where things currently stand heading into the offseason.
The Locks
Dylan Cease – RHP
A slow clap for Dylan Cease.
His inaugural campaign with the Blue Jays, following the largest free-agent signing in franchise history, could hardly have gone better. Across 29 outings, he struck out 239 batters and posted a 2.40 ERA and had an AL-leading 2.56 FIP over 169 innings.
Cease was the main cog in Toronto’s rotation, and his name should be on the AL Cy Young ballot in the coming days.
He is expected to lead the charge in 2027 and beyond, barring the club making a major splash in free agency by signing a high-profile name like Skubal.
Jose Soriano – RHP
Acquired at the 2026 trade deadline, the Jays appeared to be sellers after trading right-hander Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs. However, they surprised many by acquiring Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels.
Soriano gives Toronto some additional contract control in the rotation beyond 2026, with the right-hander currently slated to reach free agency following the 2029 campaign.
Before the trade, the Dominican product pitched to a 3.29 ERA across 123 innings with a 1.252 WHIP. After joining Toronto, however, Soriano struggled to adjust to his new club, allowing 32 earned runs across 54 1/3 innings for a 5.30 ERA and a 1.362 WHIP.
The 2027 season will represent a fresh start, and the Jays' front office will likely be excited to work with Soriano from the beginning of the campaign rather than having him join the organization midway through the year.
Trey Yesavage – RHP
After a cup of coffee with the Jays in 2025, Yesavage was expected to be a key part of Toronto’s rotation heading into last season. Unfortunately, injuries derailed those plans, and the right-hander finished the year with 20 starts in which he pitched a total of 97 2/3 innings.
Despite missing some time on the injured list, Yesavage still posted strong results on the mound. He finished the campaign with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.137 WHIP, allowing just 5.9 hits per nine innings while recording 97 strikeouts.
His FIP increased slightly to 4.22, likely due in part to the 12 home runs he surrendered (1.1 HR/9) and his 4.3 BB/9. Those are areas the right-hander will look to tighten up as he continues navigating the early stages of his major league career.
Fighting for a Spot
Spencer Arrighetti – RHP
Arrighetti joined the Jays this past summer as part of the Daulton Varsho trade with the Houston Astros, but he struggled to find his groove with his new club.
Injuries kept him sidelined until August 21 following the late-July trade, and he eventually found himself working out of the bullpen after allowing six earned runs against the Kansas City Royals on September 6.
Through seven outings with Toronto, Arrighetti allowed 16 earned runs across 22 2/3 innings.
The right-hander will likely find himself on the big league roster in 2027, but there is no guarantee he will have a spot in the starting rotation. He could also serve as starting depth for the organization, as he still has two minor league options remaining.
Jake Bloss – RHP
It was a difficult year for Jake Bloss.
He entered the season recovering from Tommy John surgery, and while rehabbing in July, he landed back on the injured list with a shoulder strain that ultimately shut him down for the remainder of the campaign.
The Jays sent him to the Arizona Fall League to get some innings under his belt before the winter, but he has struggled mightily with Mesa, allowing nine earned runs and 11 hits across 7 2/3 innings.
Next season will be a big one for the right-hander, who enters spring training out of minor league options.
Chad Dallas – RHP
Credit to Chad Dallas. He rode the options train for Toronto last season when the organization desperately needed some innings from its internal depth.
Across six outings, all of which came in a bulk-relief role, he posted a 5.02 ERA and a 1.465 WHIP over 14 1/3 innings.
After missing all of 2025 due to injury, the Jays didn't rush Dallas back into a starting role. He made 15 appearances out of the Buffalo Bisons’ bullpen last season, and 2027 could be a pivotal year in determining whether he remains a starter or transitions into a full-time bullpen role moving forward.
Luckily for Toronto, Dallas still has two minor league options remaining, giving the organization some flexibility as it figures out his future.
Spencer Miles – RHP
There is a fair argument to be made that Spencer Miles could go down as one of the best Rule 5 Draft selections in franchise history, at least when it comes to making an immediate impact.
Willie Upshaw, George Bell, Manuel Lee and Kelly Gruber fans are likely booing that suggestion, but Miles was electric in 2026.
The right-hander made 49 appearances for the Jays last season, eight of which came in a starting role. He pitched to a 2.63 ERA and struck out 93 batters across 95 2/3 innings while posting an almost identical 2.65 FIP.
There have already been rumblings that Toronto could flirt with the idea of moving Miles into the rotation, something he has certainly earned after an impressive rookie campaign.
If that doesn't pan out during his sophomore season, he should remain the go-to long man in the Jays' bullpen moving forward.
Cody Ponce – RHP
After revitalizing his career in Japan, Cody Ponce signed a three-year, $30-million deal with the Jays last offseason.
He was given an opportunity to work out of the rotation, but in cruel fashion, he tore his ACL during his first start and missed the remainder of the season on the injured list.
He didn't appear in affiliated baseball for the rest of the campaign, but the current prognosis suggests he should be ready to go in 2027.
Of the group in this section, Ponce likely has the best chance of making the rotation out of spring training based on his experience. However, the club could also consider moving him into a bullpen role if someone like Miles performs well in a starting capacity, particularly if Toronto adds another arm or two through free agency.
Ricky Tiedemann – LHP
Speaking of injuries, enter Ricky Tiedemann.
After missing all of 2025 and being limited to just 17 1/3 innings in 2024, the left-hander finally made his major league debut this past season, appearing out of the Jays' bullpen.
His sample size was limited to just six innings, where he produced mixed results. Tiedemann allowed just one earned run but also surrendered five hits and issued six walks.
Finding more consistency will be key for Tiedemann, who has already demonstrated his ability to generate strikeouts.
One major benefit for the California product is that he throws from the left side, something Toronto is currently lacking in its projected rotation heading into 2027.
CJ Van Eyk – RHP
Van Eyk found himself in a similar situation to Dallas last season, putting on plenty of mileage between Toronto and Buffalo.
The right-hander appeared in five games for Toronto, including one start, and allowed seven earned runs over 11 2/3 innings, resulting in a 5.40 ERA and a 1.457 WHIP.
He didn't walk many batters, issuing just two free passes, but he also recorded only three strikeouts while surrendering 15 hits. That combination ultimately contributed to his elevated ERA.
At 27 years old, Van Eyk is reaching a point in his career where a transition to the bullpen could become a realistic option. However, there is still some conviction within the organization that he can serve as another depth arm who can be called upon when needed in 2027.
A strong spring could help sway the coaching staff, but time is ticking for the former second-round pick.
The Wild Cards
Jose Berrios – RHP
Here we go. It's time to talk about Jose Berrios.
The 2025 World Series saga, the reported 'kicking of the tires' on a potential trade last winter, and missing all of 2026 due to injury have left Berrios and the Jays at something of a crossroads.
He has a $24-million player option this offseason, which he should be expected to exercise, leaving him with $48 million remaining through 2028.
Financially, he is likely heading back into the rotation based on principle alone, barring Toronto trading him or moving on from his contract altogether. The organization has made similar decisions with large-scale contracts in the past. Troy Tulowitzki, anyone?
There also hasn't been much information regarding Berrios' recovery from elbow surgery. Considering he underwent Tommy John surgery last May, he might not even be ready to return to the mound until late July or August.
It's not something the Jays necessarily need to address immediately, but having a significant amount of money tied up in a pitcher who found himself moving to the bullpen when Yesavage joined the club late in 2025 is likely keeping Ross Atkins up at night.
Bowden Francis – RHP
Right-hander Bowden Francis also missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, although his procedure took place in February. As a result, he’ll likely return before Berrios.
The biggest question surrounding Francis, once he is healthy and ready to return, is what his role will look like moving forward.
With Toronto, Francis has appeared in 62 games, 27 of which came in a starting role. When looking at his splits, he has found considerably more success as a reliever than as a starter, even with his multiple no-hit bids.
Out of the bullpen, Francis owns a 2.83 ERA across 63 2/3 innings compared to a 4.34 ERA across 141 innings as a starter.
It's not the most perfect comparison given the difference in innings, but the overall trends make his future role something of a coin flip.
Francis does have one minor league option remaining, meaning Toronto could send him to triple-A to work as a depth starter if the organization wants him to continue developing in that role.
Nolan Perry – RHP
It wasn't quite the same meteoric rise as Trey Yesavage's through the farm system, but Nolan Perry put together one heck of a run last season.
Starting the year in Single-A Dunedin, Perry finished the campaign with nine starts in double-A New Hampshire, where he posted a 2.32 ERA across 31 innings.
Collectively, he allowed just 23 earned runs across 82 2/3 innings and 21 appearances, finishing the year with a 5.7 H/9, 3.5 BB/9, and an impressive 12.7 K/9 as one of the Jays' top pitching prospects.
Looking ahead, Perry's chances of cracking Toronto's 2027 rotation are slim, but they certainly aren't zero.
There is some stiff competition ahead of him, and that becomes even more complicated if the club signs a starter or two this offseason. Still, it's not entirely out of the question.
An impressive spring showcase, combined with a few injuries at the major league level, could open the door for Perry.
Even if he falls just short of making the Opening Day roster, he should be hovering around triple-A Buffalo, waiting for an opportunity to make his major league debut at some point in 2027.