Dylan Cease says rest and conditioning should take care of the shoulder that ended his season. For the Blue Jays, that's the best news of the winter so far.

"Just rest and working out will probably take care of it," Cease told Sportsnet's Shi Davidi. He added that a focal point will "definitely be shoulder work," with no medical intervention needed beyond that.

The scare came in September. He was scratched from a start and underwent an MRI that revealed inflammation in his right shoulder.

There was no structural damage, and he avoided surgery. A noticeable dip in velocity was the bigger red flag before the Jays shut him down.

Before that, he was everything Toronto paid for. He posted a 2.40 ERA with 239 strikeouts across 29 starts.

He's also a finalist for the AL Outstanding Pitcher Award at the Players Choice Awards. That's the version the Jays need back in March.

Year two of Dylan Cease's $210 million deal hinges on his shoulder

He isn't satisfied with how it ended. "Right now I kind of just have a bitter taste in my mouth because I didn't finish very strong," he said.

The 30-year-old is entering the second year of a seven-year contract, the largest free-agent deal in franchise history.

The 2026 injury wave makes his health even more important. The Jays had more than 30 IL stints and over 2,000 days missed, according to Blue Jays Nation's Nick Prasad.

Should Toronto take his word for it? Mostly, yes, but the velocity is the detail worth watching in spring training.

Believe him, then plan like you don't. The Jays should add rotation depth this winter as if their ace might need extra rest early in 2027, because they can't afford another season built on hope.

A pitcher's shoulder is like a smoke detector chirping at 3 a.m. It's probably just the battery, but you still check.

His offseason has a unique twist. Cease plans to visit an ashram in southern India before returning to his usual baseball preparation.

If the shoulder holds, Toronto has a true ace anchoring the rotation. If the velocity doesn't come back in camp, Ross Atkins will wish he'd spent more this winter.