Free-agent pitcher Dylan Cease and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a $210 million, seven-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical and had not been announced.
Cease would join a terrific rotation with the reigning American League champions. The right-hander, who turns 30 next month, went 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA in 32 starts last season for the San Diego Padres.
He struck out 215 batters and walked 71 in 168 innings.
Cease was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the sixth round in 2014, but never played for the Cubs at the major-league level. He was part of the July 2017 trade that sent Eloy Jiménez and prospects to the White Sox in exchange for Jose Quintana. He made his major-league debut for the White Sox in July 2019.
Across five seasons with the White Sox, Cease had a 3.83 ERA and an 11.5 bWAR while starting 123 games. He was traded to the Padres in March 2024 for four young players and became a free agent in November.