"Free agent starting pitcher Dylan Cease, who has made at least 32 starts in each of the past five seasons, has reached a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Wednesday. With the deal, which is pending a physical, the Blue Jays add to an already formidable team that won the American League pennant and advanced to the World Series, where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a deciding Game 7."
"His slider in particular fell off last year, going from the game's most valuable by runs above average in 2024 to opposing hitters slugging .374 against it in 2025. Still, though, Cease is coming off posting a career-best strikeout rate of 29.8% and putting up a fielding independent pitching score of 3.56, a slight improvement when compared to his average from 2021 to 2024."
"The right-hander has alternated between dominant seasons and, given the quality of his stuff, disappointing ones. In 2022 and 2024, Cease finished second and fourth in Cy Young voting, respectively, while going 28-19 with a 2.84 ERA. In 2023 and 2025, he went 15-21 with a 4.57 ERA. Cease has vertically oriented movement due to his higher slot, a fastball/breaking ball-heavy power approach"
Dylan Cease agreed to a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, pending a physical. Cease, 29, made at least 32 starts in each of the past five seasons and ranked fourth in pitcher WAR over that span. His results have alternated between dominant and disappointing seasons, including second- and fourth-place Cy Young finishes and higher ERAs in other years. Cease features a high arm slot with vertically oriented movement, a fastball/slider-heavy approach, an elevated walk rate at times, and strong strikeout ability. The Padres tendered a qualifying offer; San Diego will receive a compensatory draft pick.
Read at ESPN.com
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