The Toronto Blue Jays made the biggest splash of the MLB offseason on Tuesday, signing right-hander Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract. The deal is the largest in franchise history, and Cease will join Kevin Gausman and Trey Yesavage at the top of Toronto’s rotation.
Cease is coming off a down year with the San Diego Padres, where he logged 32 starts and posted a 4.55 ERA with an 8–12 record. Despite those underwhelming numbers, the Blue Jays remain confident in his arsenal after he struck out 215 batters across 168 innings.
Advertisement
Cease has also proven to be one of the most durable pitchers in the league, recording 30 or more starts in five consecutive seasons. He previously finished in the top five of Cy Young voting in both 2022 and 2024, underscoring his ability to perform at an elite level.
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider.David Butler II-Imagn Images
Cease’s signing became official on Tuesday, making him the newest member of the Blue Jays.
With the deal finalized, fans will soon be lining up for his jerseys, and Cease has chosen to keep the number he has worn throughout his seven-year career, 84. He will become the first player in franchise history to wear that number in a Blue Jays uniform.
Advertisement
The team announced on X, “The FIRST player to wear Number 84 in Blue Jays history, Dylan Cease 🔥.”
Cease began his professional journey after being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB Draft, later dealt to the White Sox organization. He made his MLB debut for the White Sox in 2019.
Over five seasons with the White Sox, Cease developed into one of the American League’s most electric arms, highlighted by his 2022 campaign when he finished runner-up for the AL Cy Young Award.
Advertisement
In 2024, he was traded to the San Diego Padres, where he threw a no-hitter against the Washington Nationals on July 25. Across seven big-league seasons, Cease has compiled a 65–58 record with a 3.88 ERA and 1,231 strikeouts in 1,015 1/3 innings.
His durability and strikeout ability have made him one of the most respected pitchers in the game, and he will look to continue that success in Toronto over the next seven years.
Related: Alex Bregman Emerges as Blue Jays’ Potential Bo Bichette Replacement in MLB Free Agency
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 4, 2025, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.