The Toronto Blue Jays and the Detroit Tigers are both represented in the 2026 edition of Major League Baseball's year-end awards.
The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) revealed its nominees on Monday evening.
Blue Jays pitching was recognized with starter Dylan Cease nominated for the American League Cy Young Award and relief pitcher Louis Varland up for American League Reliever of the Year.
Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle is up for American League Rookie of the Year.
The recognition is consolation for a disappointing season in both Toronto and Detroit. The Blue Jays finished last in the A-L East Division only a year after reaching Game 7 of the World Series. Injuries and subpar production affected a Tigers squad expected to reach the postseason.
Cease is up for the Cy Young against Parker Messick of the Cleveland Guardians and Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees. He went 11-6 with a 2.40 earned-run average (ERA) and 239 strikeouts over 169 innings pitched.
Varland got 35 saves for the Jays and 97 strikeouts, with a 5-6 record and a 1.27 ERA.
He is a finalist against the Tampa Bay Rays' Bryan Baker and Cleveland's Cade Smith.
McGonigle was a bright spot offensively in Detroit, with a .278 batting average. He hit 18 home runs and 168 hits, drove in 72 rubs, and stole 12 bases.
He is up against the Guardians' Messick and Payton Tolle of the Boston Red Sox.
The winners of the BBWAA Awards will be announced next week, starting with the Rookies of the Year on Monday, November 9.
