The Dylan Cease era in San Diego has officially ceased.
Cease is leaving the Padres for the Toronto Blue Jays, according to multiple reports Wednesday. His seven-year, $210 million contract was one the Padres — or any team — would be hard-pressed to match.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post was first to report the news.
It’s the first blockbuster free agent signing of the 2025-26 offseason, and it sets up the 29-year-old pitcher to be the face of the Blue Jays’ rotation as they look to defend their American League title.
The Padres gave Cease a qualifying offer, a one-year, $22 million contract for 2026, which the pitcher unsurprisingly rejected. Once Cease’s contract with the Blue Jays is official, the Padres are entitled to draft-pick compensation — specifically, a pick after the completion of the fourth round of the next amateur draft in July.
Cease posted a 4.55 ERA in 32 starts this year. He allowed a career-high 21 home runs but proved as durable and deceptive as ever, making 32 starts and exceeding 200 strikeouts for the fifth consecutive season.
In spite of his relatively high ERA and 8-12 record, Cease was expected to command a hefty contract as one of the best available starters on the free agent market. His loss should hardly come as a surprise to the Padres.
While Cease’s contract sets a high bar for his peers on the free agent market, it’s no surprise to see him come off the board early. No pitcher has made more regular season starts over the last five seasons (162) or recorded more strikeouts (1,106).
More than a mere innings-eater, Cease has a 3.72 ERA (114 ERA+) for the White Sox and Padres during his five-year run.
The Padres originally acquired Cease from the White Sox for prospect Drew Thorpe and pitcher Steven Wilson, pitcher Jairo Iriarte, outfielder Samuel Zavala on March 13, 2024.
More to come on this story from Padres on SI.