"How did Cease wind up atop the "worst" list? Um, have you noticed this guy can be a little erratic? And that $210 million he'll rake in is a record for a pitcher who has led his league in walks and wild pitches twice. "If he walks less guys than the dollars that he's paid," quipped one voter, "he's got a chance" (to be worth the money). ..."
"And when you look at the numbers there is plenty to bet high on with Cease, which is what the Blue Jays did. His 2025 Baseball Savant page is full of red markers, with many of his statistic's in the 80th percentile and above. His K% sits in the 89th percentile while his whiff percentage is in the 95th percentile. His fastball velo sits at 97 mph, ranking in the 88th percentile."
"What he'll need to get a handle on is the walk rate (20th percentile) and while his 4.55 ERA doesn't look great, his xERA of 3.46 is much more respectable and something that seems achievable with one of the league's top defenses behind him in Toronto. Hitters batted .239 against him,"
The Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent pitcher Dylan Cease, a move that drew heavy criticism from many MLB executives in an anonymous executive survey. Thirteen executives questioned the Cease deal, pointing to erratic control and a $210 million contract for a pitcher who has led his league in walks and wild pitches twice. Other offseason signings received fewer negative votes. Cease grades among the league's best in strikeout rate, whiff percentage, and fastball velocity, but his walk rate sits in the 20th percentile and his 4.55 ERA contrasts with a 3.46 xERA; a strong Toronto defense could help mitigate concerns.
Read at Jays Journal
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