Jays sign Dylan Cease: 7 years and $210M for the star pitcher

Dylan Cease lands with the Blue Jays on a multi-million dollar contract

Free agent starting pitcher Dylan Cease has agreed to a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to sources familiar with the negotiation. The deal, which is subject to a physical, further bolsters an already competitive team. Cease, who has been a consistent pitcher in the last five seasons, joins the Blue Jays, who aspire to the top of the American League.

In his five seasons as a full-time starter, Cease led the Major Leagues in strikeouts (1,106), but also in walks (361) and wild pitches (51). The right-handed pitcher has shown variable performance, alternating dominant seasons with less outstanding ones. In 2022 and 2024, Cease finished second and fourth in the Cy Young voting, respectively, with a record of 28-19 and an ERA of 2.84. In 2023 and 2025, his record was 15-21 with an ERA of 4.57. Cease utilizes a vertical movement due to his high position, a power approach based on the combination of fastball/breaking pitch (at least 80% fastballs/sliders for both right-handed and left-handed hitters) and a high walk rate at times, along with a high strikeout rate.

His slider, in particular, saw its performance decline last season, going from being the most valuable in the game by runs above average in 2024 to opposing hitters batting .374 against it in 2025. However, Cease is coming off of recording a career-high strikeout rate of 29.8% and posting a fielding independent pitching score of 3.56, a slight improvement compared to his 2021-2024 average.

These numbers, along with his age and the deficiencies of other available starters, made him one of the most attractive pitchers in free agency. Cease rejected a qualifying offer of $22.025 million from the Padres, allowing him to sign with a new team. San Diego will receive a compensatory draft pick after the fourth round. Selected in the sixth round of the 2014 draft by the Chicago Cubs, Cease originally went to the Chicago White Sox along with Eloy Jimenez in a 2017 trade headlined by Jose Quintana, then was acquired by the San Diego Padres in exchange for a package of prospects in March 2024.