Blue Jays reportedly flex muscles, sign Dylan Cease to massive contract

The Toronto Blue Jays have signed free agent right-hand starting pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman.

The deal is pending a physical and according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the deal includes some deferrals. However, the extent of those deferrals is not yet known at the time of this writing.

Blue Jays reportedly flex muscles, sign Dylan Cease to massive contract

Cease spent his last two seasons with the San Diego Padres, who acquired him in a trade with the Chicago White Sox back in 2024. His 2025 campaign ended with an 8-12 record and a 4.55 ERA. His strikeout total of 215 was sixth-best among starting pitchers across the league. His career totals include a 65-58 record, 15.8 WAR, and 1,231 strikeouts in 1015.1 innings pitched.

Since 2020, Cease leads the leagues in total strikeouts with 1,150, and right behind him is Kevin Gausman, his new teammate, with 1099. Per Baseball Savant, Cease's strikeout percentage sits in the 89th percentile, with his whiff percentage in the 95th. However, his biggest concern is his walk rate, which sits in the 20th percentile. Cease surrendered 71 walks in 2025, the second-most across the league.

The newest Blue Jay now joins a starting rotation of Gausman, Jose Berrios, Shane Bieber, and Trey Yesavage. Toronto needed to find its fifth starting pitcher after the likes of Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer hit free agency following the 2025 World Series.

This marks another year in which the Blue Jays make a giant splash in the offseason, with early 2025 highlighted by Vladimir Guerrero Jr's massive 15-year, $500 million extension. In past years, they've used the offseason to land their biggest fish, with examples like George Springer in 2021, Gausman in 2022, and, more recently, Anthony Santander.

Cease was also one of the best available arms in free agency, an enigmatic hurler who was expected to land a massive deal. The Blue Jays were anticipated to make a giant splash following their first World Series appearance since 1993. As free agency rolls along, Toronto is continues to remain in the hunt for fan favorite Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker. Clearly, the Jays aren't worried about raising their payroll ceiling even further in pursuit of a championship. To beat the best, you have to spend like the best. After Shane Bieber gave Toronto a payroll break, the Jays flexed their remaining financial muscles in pursuit of something special.

People want to play here, and the Blue Jays have the finances to make it worth their while. A pretty special combination.