The Toronto Blue Jays are set to sign free agent right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract, aiming to strengthen their already formidable rotation. The 29-year-old spent the 2025 season with the San Diego Padres, ending with a 4.55 ERA in 168.0 innings.
Despite missing starting pitcher Jose Berrios and having Chris Bassitt pitch from the bullpen, the Blue Jays lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a grueling seven-game World Series. After inking the deal, first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Cease — who came second in the 2022 American League Cy Young race while with the Chicago White Sox — is expected to join the 2026 Toronto rotation alongside Kevin Gausman, playoff breakout Trey Yesavage, Berrios, and Shane Bieber.
Despite his peripheral stats remaining similar, Cease’s ERA shot up to 4.55 in 2025, a significant increase from 3.47 in 2024. His 3.46 xERA and 3.56 FIP (fielding independent pitching) barely increased from his 3.31 and 3.10 marks in 2024, respectively.
Always known for his strikeouts, the 29-year-old with a killer curveball had a 15.6 percent swinging-strike rate in 2025, ranking second in MLB, just behind American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.
Cease’s deal is the second-largest in team history, only surpassed by the $500 million extension signed by first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. earlier in 2025. If he returns to the Blue Jays, current free agent shortstop Bo Bichette may surpass Cease’s contract.
The right-handed player has an impressive career record, with a 10.9 strikeout/9 ratio. He started his journey as a prospect with the Chicago Cubs before being traded to the White Sox in the 2017 Jose Quintana deal.
Despite his inconsistent performance — Cease was exceptional in 2022 and 2024 (securing a spot in the top 5 of Cy Young voting both times) but struggled in 2023 and 2025 — he’s maintained his position as one of baseball’s most reliable starters. For the past five seasons, he’s consistently made at least 32 starts and pitched 165.2 innings.
In the 2023 offseason, Cease was traded from the rebuilding Sox to the Padres in a package that included Drew Thorpe, who had been acquired by San Diego just months earlier in the Juan Soto trade.
The Blue Jays are on the verge of losing both Bassitt and Max Scherzer to free agency. Ace Kevin Gausman recently completed the fourth year of a five-year contract with the franchise.
The team might look to free agency to bolster its lineup. Along with re-signing Bichette, Toronto is rumored to be interested in star outfielder Kyle Tucker.