ESPN’s David Schoenfield graded Toronto’s disappointing 2026 season a D, not an F, citing reasons for a rebound: several players missed time with injuries, while Dylan Cease, Louis Varland and prospect Brett Bateman offer promise for 2027.
Schoenfield questioned whether Toronto’s 2025 World Series appearance was a fluke. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s down year was identified as a major reason for the regression; Alejandro Kirk, Addison Barger, Trey Yesavage, Cody Ponce, Max Scherzer and Shane Bieber also missed substantial time with injuries. The article says avoiding similar injury trouble could make 2027 more like 2025.
The article describes Cease as a Cy Young contender this year who should remain one, and Varland as looking like one of baseball’s best closers. Bateman, a midseason prospect pickup from the Cubs in the Kevin Gausman deal, has played well since joining Toronto.
