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

Dylan Cease Signs with the Blue Jays for a Lucrative Contract

Free agent starting pitcher Dylan Cease has reached a seven-year, $210 million agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to sources close to the team. The deal, subject to a physical examination, bolsters an already competitive team looking to establish itself at the top of the American League. Cease, who has been a consistent starter in the last five seasons, has been a key piece in the rotation of the teams where he has played. His performance has positioned him as one of the most sought-after pitchers in the free agent market.

In five seasons as a full-time starter with the Padres from 2021 to 2025, Dylan Cease led Major League Baseball 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 thanks to his high release, a power approach based on the combination of fastballs and breaking pitches (at least 80% fastballs/sliders to both right-handed and left-handed hitters) and a high walk rate at times, accompanied by a high strikeout rate.

His slider, in particular, diminished in effectiveness 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 a fielding independent pitching score of 3.56, a slight improvement compared to his 2021-2024 average.

These data, 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 before the November 18 deadline. Because he signed with a new team, San Diego will receive a compensatory pick in the draft after the fourth round. Selected in the sixth round by the Chicago Cubs in 2014, Cease originally went to the Chicago White Sox along with Eloy Jiménez in a 2017 trade led by José Quintana, then was acquired by the San Diego Padres in exchange for a package of prospects in March 2024. In five years as a full-time starter from 2021 to 2025, Cease led the Major Leagues in strikeouts (1,106), but also in walks (361) and wild pitches (51).