Blue Jays Bolster rotation with Signing โขof Free Agent dylan cease
The Toronto Blue Jays have significantly strengthened their pitching rotation withโ the acquisition of right-handed starter Dylan Cease, a top free-agent target.The signing, announced Wednesday, brings a durable and high-strikeout pitcher โคto a team that recently โฃcompetedโฃ in the World Series, falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in an 11-inning Game 7.
cease has agreed to a seven-year, $210 million contract, the largest everโ given โto a free agent โby the Blue Jays, an expansion team established in 1977.The deal, which includes deferred dollars, has an annual average value of $30 million, according to Sportrac, and is contingent uponโ a accomplished physical.
Cease, who pitched forโข the San Diegoโ padres โlastโ season, has demonstrated remarkable consistency, making at least 32 starts in โฃeach of the last five campaigns. He was widely considered one of the premier pitchers available in free agency alongside left-hander Framberโ Valdez. The hard-throwing right-hander has recorded at โleast 200 strikeouts inโ five consecutive seasons and boasts two 14-win seasons on his resume.
The โaddition of Cease solidifies a Toronto rotation that already features veterans Shane Bieber and Kevinโ Gausman, alongside rookie Trey yesavage, who emerged as a โคpostseason standout. Jose Berrรญos is alsoโฃ expected to remain โa key partโ of the team’s starting staff. However, two other 2025 starters, Chris Bassitt andโฃ Maxโ Scherzer, are now free agents. The Blue Jaysโข are reportedlyโ seeking a left-handed pitcher to further balance their rotation, with Eric Lauer currently the only lefty likely to return.
Cease, who will turn 30 onโฃ December 28th, began his Major League career with the Chicago white Soxโค in 2019 before beingโข traded to san Diego in 2024. Originally drafted by the chicago Cubs,he never pitched for that institution.
This signing represents a important achievement for the Blue Jays, who have previously pursued other high-profile free agents such asโฃ Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Juan Soto. The relatively early signingโ is notable,as clients of super-agent Scott Boras often engage in extended negotiations. Though,โค Toronto’s offerโ met Cease’s requirements regarding years,โฃ compensation, and theโค potential for championship โขcontention.
The Blue Jaysโ are aiming โtoโ end a championship drought, having last won the World โขSeries inโ 1993 with consecutive โvictoriesโ overโ the Philadelphia Phillies (1993) and Atlanta Bravesโ (1992).
Toronto finished the 2024 season with a 94-68 record, tied with the New York Yankeesโ for โขthe best in the American League. Sportrac currently projects Toronto’s โ2026 payroll at โฃ$193,025,266, ranking them first in the American League and fourth in Major League baseball. This figure is expectedโข to increase with โarbitration decisions and further free-agent acquisitions. The Cease contract extends through the 2032 season.
