Ex-Blue Jay who dominated in Japan signs with the perennial rebuilding White Sox

At one point it felt like Anthony Kay could be a part of the Toronto Blue Jays future core. A former first round draft pick (No. 31 overall) of the New York Mets in 2016, Kay was traded along with Simeon Woods Richardson to the Blue Jays at the 2019 trade deadline in exchange for Marcus Stroman.

It was one of the final moves GM Ross Atkins made in dismantling what was left of the Blue Jays playoff teams from 2015 and '16, in the hopes that the return could spark the next wave of playoff success.

Ex-Blue Jay who dominated in Japan signs with the perennial rebuilding White Sox

When Kay arrived in Toronto he was 24-years-old and he got into two games that same year, making his MLB debut on Sept. 7, throwing 5.2 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, striking out eight and giving up just two earned runs. Not a bad start, but the good times didn't last long.

Kay would pitch in 25 games for the Blue Jays over the next three seasons, most of them out of the bullpen, making only five starts in 2021. He accumulated a 5.40 ERA with a 1.67 WHIP. His strikeout numbers were great, sitting down 64 batters in 56.2 innings, but his walk rate was a very high 5.2 BB/9. During the 2023 offseason, the Chicago Cubs selected him off waivers and his tenure with the Blue Jays came to an end.

He bounced around with a couple of teams before heading overseas to play in Japan in 2024 and it's there that Kay has seemingly reinvented himself. The 30-year-old lefty posted a 1.74 ERA for the Yokohama BayStars in 155 innings. He allowed just eight home runs while striking out 130 batters and walking 41. It was an improvement on what was an impressive first year in Japan, in which he pitched to a 3.42 ERA in 136.2 innings. Reports indicate he has a new cut fastball, an improved changeup and a fastball that sits at 95 mph.

That was enough to impress the Chicago White Sox who have lost a combined 324 games over the last three years. They've signed Kay to a two-year $10 million deal, with an option for 2028. He figures to slot in with Shane Smith, Davis Martin and Sean Burke, all young right handed pitchers who posted net-positive bWARs in 2025.

The Blue Jays have had some success in the Pacific Rim in the last couple of months. They signed Eric Lauer who did a stint in South Korea before having a fantastic 2025 season with Toronto. They also inked Cody Ponce on a three-year deal last week who looks to have revived his game after spending the last four years in Japan and South Korea. But Kay didn't appear to be on their radar and it looks like the White Sox may have found a potential hidden gem.

The White Sox will need a lot more than Kay though if they hope to pull themselves out of the cellar of the AL Central. While they had a 19 win improvement year over year, they still only managed to win 60 games with a team that has a ton of question marks.