One of the top free-agent starters on the market can already be crossed off the big board. Dylan Cease signed a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Report: Dylan Cease, Blue Jays Agree to Seven-Year Deal
Cease is often considered a high commodity around the big leagues since emerging as a dominant starter. Starting his career with the Chicago White Sox in 2019, his breakout season came in 2022. After three seasons of steadily decreasing ERAs, Cease posted a career best of 2.20, pitching to a 14-8 record with a WHIP of 1.109. He finished second for the American League Cy Young Award that year behind Justin Verlander.
Right-hander Dylan Cease and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a seven-year, $210 million contract, pending a physical, sources tell ESPN. The defending American League champions get one of the best arms on the free agent market.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 26, 2025
After one more season on the South Side, Cease was the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade to the San Diego Padres just before the start of the 2024 season. He went to the Friars in exchange for Steven Wilson, Drew Thorpe, Jairo Irarte, and Samuel Zavala. In 2024, Cease went 14-11 with a 3.47 ERA, more than a full run lower than his 2023 figure (4.58). The highlight of his career came that July, when he threw a no-hitter, the second in Padres franchise history. His first season in San Diego was strong enough to earn him a fourth-place finish for the NL Cy Young Award.
While Cease’s ERA has been all over the place from season to season, he has two major assets: his durability and that he’s a strikeout machine. For each of the last five seasons, he has made 30 or more starts and struck out over 200 hitters. In 2025, Cease led the majors with 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Back in 2021, he led the American League with a career-best 12.3 K/9.
On to Toronto
Cease will join a Toronto staff that nearly delivered the Jays their first World Series title since 1993. The starters certainly did their part, particularly rookie Trey Yesavage, who put himself on the map in October with multiple record-setting performances. Cease is still young at 29 years old, but has the experience to mentor even younger pitchers and lead the rotation with Kevin Gausman and the hopefully healthy José Berríos.
Main Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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