Toronto Blue Jays

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes was named the 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner while Robbie Ray of the Toronto Blue Jays took home the American League Cy Young.

Ray received 29 of 30 first-place votes while Gerrit Cole received the only other vote. 

Here's the voting breakdown for the 2021 American League Cy Young Award (via @officialBBWAA).

Robbie Ray received 29 of 30 first-place votes. pic.twitter.com/5GM2aQmp3P

— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) November 17, 2021

Burnes and Zack Wheeler each earned 12 first-place votes in the NL race, though Burnes had enough overall points to take the top prize. 

Via the @officialBBWAA, here is the full breakdown on NL Cy Young Award voting. Zack Wheeler finishes second to Corbin Burnes, and closer than some expected. pic.twitter.com/4yr3l0Sz8O

— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) November 17, 2021

There was plenty of debate over the winner in both leagues with no runaway performers over the course of the season. 

Robbie Ray was the favorite to win in the AL after leading the league in ERA (2.84), strikeouts (248) and WHIP (1.05) as part of a breakout season for the left-hander.

Though the 30-year-old had always been a top strikeout threat on the mound, Ray cut down his walks this season with a career-low 2.4 per nine innings. It helped him develop into an ace during his first full season with the Blue Jays.

There was still competition in the AL, notably from Gerrit Cole after the New York Yankees star posted a 16-8 record and 3.23 ERA. The 31-year-old was an analytical favorite, topping Ray in FIP (2.92) and WAR (5.3), per FanGraphs. He also led the league with 5.9 strikeouts per walk.

Lance Lynn also had a solid argument for the award with his 2.58 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, though he didn't qualify for the league lead with just 157 innings.

Ray stood above the field as the top pitcher in the league just one season after struggling to a 6.62 ERA in 12 appearances.

Robbie Ray had a 6.62 ERA in 2020

That is the highest ERA for a pitcher in the season prior to winning Cy Young

Prior highest: 2007 Cliff Lee, 6.29 -- won ‘08 CYA

BASEBALL IS THE BEST. TURNAROUNDS ARE AMAZING!

(h/t @EliasSports)

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) November 17, 2021

Robbie Ray, prior to this season, had only received Cy Young votes once in his career. Finished 7th that season. He just won the Cy Young as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. Take a bow Pete Walker.

— Sid Seixeiro (@Sid_Seixeiro) November 17, 2021

The NL featured a closer battle between Max Scherzer, Corbin Burnes and Zack Wheeler once Jacob deGrom went down with a season-ending injury in July.

Scherzer split his time between the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers and was effective in both spots, combining for a 2.46 ERA and major league-leading 0.86 WHIP. He was especially dominant after his midseason trade to the Dodgers, going 7-0 with a 1.98 ERA in 11 starts.

Wheeler led all pitchers with 7.6 wins above replacement, per Baseball Reference, while going 14-10 with a 2.78 ERA. He also posted two nine-inning shutouts and was truly dominant at times in 2021.

Burnes was more consistent over the course of the season, winning the ERA title with a 2.43 mark, and his 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings was also the best in the NL among qualified players.

Voters decided Burnes was the best of the bunch as he earned his first career Cy Young award.  

Seven months after being acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays in a midseason trade, Jose Berrios has agreed to a long-term contract extension with the team. 

MLB Network's Jon Heyman first reported the two sides agreed to a deal. Shi Davidi of SportsNet added the contract will be worth $131 million over seven years. 

The Blue Jays sent Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Berrios on July 30. 

Berrios helped spark Toronto's quest for a playoff spot in 2021. The right-hander posted a 3.58 ERA in 70.1 innings over 12 starts after the deal. He would have been eligible for free agency after next season. 

Even though the Blue Jays missed out on the postseason, they are well positioned after getting Berrios' deal done to be a juggernaut in the American League East for years to come. 

Berrios, George Springer, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Teoscar Hernandez and Bo Bichette are all under team control through at least the 2023 season. 

Combining his stats between both teams, Berrios tied for the AL lead with 32 starts. He set career-bests in ERA (3.52), WHIP (1.06), strikeouts (204) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.53). 

A first-round draft pick by the Twins in 2012, Berrios has emerged as one of the better pitchers in the American League. He was named to the All-Star team in 2018 and 2019. 

Robbie Ray is a free agent, leaving the Blue Jays with potentially one big hole in their rotation to fill.  But getting Berrios on a long-term deal gives Toronto stability at the top of its rotation for the future.   

Free-agent pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez is receiving interest from the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi. 

The news comes after the Boston Red Sox extended an $18.4 million qualifying offer to the left-hander last week. He has until Nov. 17 to accept or decline that offer. If he declines, the Red Sox will receive draft compensation.

Morosi reported Nov. 9 that the Angels were showing interest in Rodriguez as they aim to upgrade their rotation this winter. L.A. has also reportedly been linked to Robbie Ray, Marcus Stroman and Noah Syndergaard. 

The Angels had one of the worst pitching staffs in MLB last season, recording a 4.69 ERA, the ninth worst in MLB, and a 1.38 WHIP. 

Shohei Ohtani, Jose Suarez and Patrick Sandoval figure to be atop L.A.'s rotation in 2022. However, the Angels need replacements for Dylan Bundy and Alex Cobb, who struggled in 2021 and are now free agents. 

As for Toronto, the Blue Jays actually had one of the better pitching staffs in baseball last season, finishing with a 3.91 ERA (10th in MLB) and a 1.23 WHIP (eighth in MLB). However, with Ray now a free agent, the team could very well need to replace him this winter.

As it stands, the Jays' rotation includes Hyun Jin Ryu, Jose Berrios, Alek Manoah and Thomas Hatch. 

Like the Angels, Detroit's pitching staff was subpar in 2021, finishing with a 4.32 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. The Tigers have a relatively young rotation with Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and Matt Manning onboard for 2022, and they could benefit from adding a veteran like Rodriguez. 

However, Rodriguez struggled in 2021 after missing the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign due to myocarditis related to his COVID-19 diagnosis. The Venezuelan went 13-8 with a career-worst 4.74 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. 

The 28-year-old's best season came in 2019, when he finished sixth in American League Cy Young voting. He went 19-6 with a career-best 3.81 ERA, in addition to a 1.33 WHIP and 213 strikeouts in 203.1 innings across 34 starts. 

Despite his struggles, Rodriguez is a solid candidate to have a bounce-back season in 2022, and he's among one of the best free-agent pitchers available this winter.  

The Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly giving second baseman Marcus Semien the $18.4 million qualifying offer, per MLB Network's Jon Heyman.

Heyman also noted Robbie Ray will receive the one-year offer from Toronto. 

Every player who receives the one-year qualifying offer has until Nov. 17 to accept or reject it. 

A player can still re-sign with his old team if he rejects the offer, but he will also be allowed to negotiate with other clubs as a free agent. 

If the player signs with another team, his previous club will receive a draft pick as compensation. 

Semien is coming off a career-best season, posting a triple slash of .265/.334/.538 with 45 home runs, 102 runs batted in and 15 steals. He slid over to second base after signing the one-year contract with the Blue Jays. However, he has maintained he sees himself more as a shortstop.

"I still see myself as a shortstop. I've been playing the position for so long. Now I go over there to second, and I'm hitting more home runs, so it's all good. I've never had my name in any record book, so it's really cool," Semien told reporters. 

The Oakland Athletics chose not to offer Semien a qualifying last offseason, leading him to sign a one-year, $18 million deal in Toronto. 

Extending Semien this qualifying offer is a matter of semantics; it's a near-guarantee that he will receive a massive long-term contract on the open market.

The Blue Jays are undoubtedly interested in bringing Semien back, but this protects them in the form of draft compensation if he priced himself out of their market. 

Ray's decision is fascinating to examine. It would seem unlikely that he takes the one-year tender. The 30-year-old is coming off the best season of his career, leading the AL in ERA (2.84), innings pitched (193.1), strikeouts (248) and WHIP (1.05).

But that came after a 2020 season split between the Blue Jays and Arizona Diamondbacks in which he walked 45 batters in 51.2 innings. 

Ray has historically been someone who will throw a lot of pitches because he racks up plenty of strikeouts and walks. Before this season, the southpaw has never averaged fewer than 3.5 walks per nine innings in a season since making his MLB debut in 2014. He averaged 5.1 free passes per nine innings in 69 appearances from 2018-20. 

This isn't a particularly strong market for free-agent starting pitchers. Ray, Kevin Gausman and Marcus Stroman are arguably the top three available. Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw and Carlos Rodon have high ceilings, but concerns about age and/or durability could limit the potential offers they will receive. 

Ray's age and durability will make him an attractive option for teams seeking help in the rotation. It's up to him to decide if it's worth testing the market to get a long-term deal or take the one-year deal from Toronto. 

The screws are tightening in the American League Wild Card race heading into the final two days of the regular season. 

After their 4-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night at Nationals Park, the Boston Red Sox have moved within one game of the New York Yankees for the top spot. 

The Yankees lost 4-3 at home to the Tampa Bay Rays, who have already clinched the AL East title. 

The Toronto Blue Jays were able to stay within one game of the Red Sox thanks to their 6-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre. 

The Seattle Mariners are hosting the Los Angeles Angels in their final series of the regular season. The first game got underway at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Mariners will remain tied with the Red Sox in the second wild-card position with a win tonight. 

Updated AL Wild Card Standings

1. New York Yankees (91-69)

2. Boston Red Sox (90-70; 1 GB)

3. Seattle Mariners (89-70; 1.5 GB)

4. Toronto Blue Jays (89-71; 1 GB of No. 2 WC)

Coming into Friday's games, the Yankees had an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth. They would have needed to defeat the Rays and see a loss by either the Red Sox or Mariners. 

Even though the Red Sox have one of the easiest matchups of the weekend among the contenders, they were coming off five losses in their past six games, including two of three to the Orioles earlier this week. 

DIEHARD BALTIMORE ORIOLES FAN CLUB RISE UP! pic.twitter.com/kX6nlCFsrH

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) October 1, 2021

Boston's offense got off to a slow start against Nationals starter Josh Rogers before breaking through with four runs in the top of the sixth. Hunter Renfroe and Bobby Dalbec hit back-to-back homers to provide all of the scoring for the Red Sox. 

Hello, here is...
𝗛𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗. pic.twitter.com/4DiYk35pNZ

— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 2, 2021

In the Bronx, the Rays and Yankees looked like they were going to play a high-scoring affair after trading runs in the first inning and Tampa added a run in the top of the second. 

And we're off to a BOOMING start pic.twitter.com/P8bZuFW53z

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 1, 2021

Tampa's pitching staff did a fantastic job of limiting the Yankees for most of the game after the first. The Bronx Bombers didn't get a runner into scoring position over the next seven innings. 

New York did bring the go-ahead run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth. Joey Gallo and Brett Gardner drove in runs with RBI singles. Gary Sanchez, who was pinch-hitting for Kyle Higashioka with runners on first and second, went down swinging for the second out. 

Rays closer Andrew Kittredge got Rougned Odor to strike out to end the game. 

The Blue Jays looked like they were going to cruise to victory after taking a 6-0 lead going into the top of the seventh. Danny Jansen and Corey Dickerson each hit homers in the game. 

Baltimore was able to make things interesting with four runs in the top of the eighth. Kelvin Gutierrez and Pat Valaika homered, and Trey Mancini drove in a run with an RBI single. Jordan Romano closed out the contest with a perfect ninth inning. 

Looking ahead to Saturday's games, the Yankees will send Jordan Montgomery to the mound against Rays rookie Shane Baz at 1:05 p.m. ET. The Orioles have ace John Means going against Toronto rookie Alek Manoah at 3:07 p.m. 

The Red Sox have yet to name a starter for their game against the Nationals at 4:05 p.m. The Mariners will have the luxury of knowing where everyone stands when their showdown with the Angels starts at 9:10. 

Marcus Semien made history Wednesday.

The Toronto Blue Jays star hit his 44th home run of the year, setting the MLB single-season mark for a second baseman:

Semien’s 44th homer as a 2B is a NEW @MLB single-season record! pic.twitter.com/9NJ9gbsWG4

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 29, 2021

SEMI-EN THE HISTORY BOOKS! pic.twitter.com/uZfAIFRXja

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 29, 2021

Semien, 31, is having a career year, already setting career highs in homers, RBI (101) and stolen bases (15).

He was also named as an All-Star for the first time in his career, though he was something of a snub in the 2019 season (33 homers, 92 RBI, 123 runs, .892 OPS) after he finished third in the MVP voting that year but wasn't an ASG selection.

His production has been a huge reason the Blue Jays remain in the hunt for a playoff berth, currently just a game back of the Boston Red Sox for the final wild-card spot in the American League.

Most HR in a season, 1B & 2B, on the same team:

90 - Ryan Howard/Chase Utley, 2006 Phillies

90 - Vlad Guerrero Jr./Marcus Semien, 2021 Blue Jays

— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) September 29, 2021

Semien breaks the record Davey Johnson set while playing for the Braves in 1973 https://t.co/2BnxmO35fH

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) September 29, 2021

Semien hasn't taken a day off, either, appearing in all 158 games for the Blue Jays this season.

"I could tell that's just what he wants, it's what he does. He's here to play every game," Jays manager Charlie Montoyo told Yahoo Sports' Hannah Keyser. "He doesn't need a day off, which I love guys like that. But then when you go through a season you figure, 'Man, you're gonna have to have a day off sometime.'"

Not Semien, who also played the full 162 in 2019.

"My focus is actually on playing till the last game of the World Series," he told Keyser. "That would be an extra, I don't know how many games. You put your mind towards that date instead of the end of the season."

At this rate, he might just bash the Blue Jays into the postseason himself.

Toronto Blue Jays star Marcus Semien hit his 43rd home run of the season Saturday night, tying the MLB record for the most home runs by a second baseman in a single season.

Most single-season HR by a 2B in @MLB HISTORY:

T1) Marcus Semien - 43 (2021) 🤯
T1) Davey Johnson - 43 (1973) pic.twitter.com/RKVEUs4ZXd

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 26, 2021

Semien's record-tying blast was a solo shot in the sixth inning off Minnesota Twins reliever Luke Farrell. Semien also had a single in the game, and the Blue Jays went on to win 6-1.

After the game, Semien commented on his historic home run, per SI Now's Ethan Diamandas:

#BlueJays' Marcus Semien on his record-tying 43rd homer of the season:

"I've never had my name in any record book or anything like that, so it's really cool."

— Ethan Diamandas (@EthanDiamandas) September 26, 2021

He also joked that, despite the record, he still doesn't think of himself as a second baseman, per Sportsnet's Arash Madani:

Marcus Semien: "I still see myself as a shortstop."

— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) September 26, 2021

With seven games left in the season, Semien has a good shot at breaking Davey Johnson's record, which he set as a member of the Atlanta Braves in 1973. He'll get his next opportunity Sunday afternoon in the series finale against the Twins.

It's been a year to remember for the 31-year-old infielder, who signed a one-year, $18 million deal with the Blue Jays after spending the last six seasons in Oakland. He was voted to his first All-Star game in July and will finish the season with career bests in home runs, RBI and stolen bases. His .341 on-base percentage and .544 slugging percentage would also be high marks if they hold. 

After spending almost his entire career at shortstop, the change of scenery and position has helped Semien become one of the sport's top players. The Blue Jays will continue to rely on his bat down the stretch as they trail Boston and New York in the AL Wild Card race.

With seven games left in the season, Semien has a good shot at breaking Davey Johnson's record, which he set as a member of the Atlanta Braves in 1973. He'll get his next opportunity Sunday afternoon in the series finale against the Twins.

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Ryan Borucki and manager Charlie Montoyo have been suspended after Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier was hit by a pitch during Wednesday's game.

Borucki received a three-game suspension, which he is expected to appeal. Montoyo told reporters at Target Field that he received a one-game ban, and he will serve it on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins. 

The situation between Kiermaier and the Jays began on Monday night. The Rays outfielder picked up a data card that fell out of Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk's wristband as he was making a tag on Kiermaier at the plate. 

Per Arash Madani of SportsNet, the card contained Toronto's pitching game plan for Rays hitters. 

Montoyo told reporters after Tuesday's game between the two teams that Rays manager Kevin Cash apologized to him for the situation. The Blue Jays skipper described it as "agua under the bridge" at that point. 

Borucki apparently didn't get that message for the final game of the series on Wednesday night. The left-hander hit Kiermaier in the back with his first pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning. 

Both benches cleared, though there was no physical altercation, and Borucki was immediately ejected from the game. Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker was also tossed out by the umpires after arguing about Borucki's ejection. 

The Rays went on to win the game 7-1 to clinch their third consecutive postseason berth.    

The supposed truce between the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays lasted just seven innings. 

In the bottom of the eighth Wednesday, the Jays took out the remainder of their frustration with Tampa's Kevin Keirmaier, hitting him with a 93 mph fastball in the numbers and causing both benches to clear.   

On Monday, Kevin Kiermaier picked up a card with the Blue Jays game plan and the Rays reportedly refused to give it back.

Today, the Jays hit Kiermaier with a pitch and the benches cleared.

(via @MLB) https://t.co/FCfdgUJsTA

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 22, 2021

Ryan Borucki has been ejected.

Pete Walker is absolutely livid and being held back by Montoyo and Schneider.

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) September 22, 2021

Ryan Borucki says that he missed arm-side and hit Kevin Kiermaier accidentally in the 8th. #BlueJays

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) September 22, 2021

Nothing else come of the fracas, which goes back to Kiermaier picking up a data card dropped by Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk during a play at the plate earlier in the series. Toronto was incensed that their American League East rival had access to its scouting report. 

Earlier Wednesday, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported Rays manager Kevin Cash and Jays skipper Charlie Montoyo cleared the air over the incident. That message apparently wasn't relayed to Toronto reliever Ryan Borucki, who will likely face a suspension unless MLB buys his excuse that he just "missed" with his pitch. 

 

Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier claims he did not look at the Toronto Blue Jays data card that he picked up after being tagged out in the sixth inning of the Rays-Jays game on Monday.

"I never even looked at it, I'll say that," Kiermaier told Arash Madani of Sportsnet. "But at the same time, I'm not going to drop it or hand it back."

Madani provided detail, highlights and more Kiermaier quotes.

Spoke w/ Kiermaier. These are his comments.

Around 5:20 pm, Kevin Cash came out to speak with Charlie Montoyo about it.

The Jays are pissed. As a team source told me, "if there’s one card we wouldn’t want any opponent to have, it’s that one"

More at 6:30 pm on @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/Rp6iaGNPwM

— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) September 21, 2021

The Rays ended up winning Monday's game 6-4.

The Kiermaier incident brought forth a host of opinions.

"Kiermaier did absolutely nothing wrong," Chris Carlin of ESPN Radio tweeted."Bad on Kirk for dropping it. Sorry."

The Toronto Star had this take, per an opinion piece from Mike Wilner.

Was Kevin Kiermaier scooping up Alejandro Kirk's cheat sheet the morally correct thing to do? No. Would everyone on the #BlueJays have done the same thing? Yes.

If you don’t want important information stolen, take better care of it. New @Wilnerness column:https://t.co/29ksxafHg8

— Toronto Star Sports (@StarSports) September 22, 2021

Tao of Stieb, a Sportsnet blogger, tweeted this perspective: "I would have more respect for Kiermaier if he just owned it. If he saw it and picked it up, so be it. All this 'aw shucks, I didn’t even, I don’t know, I just handed it to someone and never heard of it again' is pretty fake."

As Kiermaier noted, he did not give the card back.

This incident occurred during a very important series with postseason ramifications for both teams.