"The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired arguably the top free-agent pitcher on the market, signing right-hander Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal. This addition is a massive boost to the rotation. After the Blue Jays fell just short in the 2025 World Series, management decided to make a splash. This signing is a major statement to both the fanbase and the league, signalling their intent to return to the Fall Classic."
"Cease has seven seasons of Major League experience. He was drafted out of high school in 2014 by the Chicago Cubs in the sixth round. After four seasons in the Cubs' minor-league system, he moved across town to join the Chicago White Sox organization as part of the trade package for left-hander Jose Quintana. He was later traded to the Padres before the 2024 season, with the White Sox acquiring four players in return."
"Where things get unusual is in the command-related categories. During the shortened 2020 campaign, Cease led the league in walks with 34, and again in 2022 with 78 - the latter leading all of Major League Baseball. He also led the league in wild pitches in 2021 (13) and 2023 (14). On the positive side, Cease led the NL in bWAR with a 6.4 mark in 2022. His last two seasons have been statistically appealing overall."
The Toronto Blue Jays signed right-hander Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract, adding a top free-agent pitcher to their rotation. The addition follows the Blue Jays falling short in the 2025 World Series and signals an intention to pursue another championship run. Cease was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2014, was traded to the White Sox as part of the Jose Quintana deal, and later moved to the Padres before 2024. Cease has durability and elite strikeout ability but has struggled with command, leading MLB in walks in 2020 and 2022 and in wild pitches in 2021 and 2023. Recent seasons show high strikeout totals, strong WAR, and mixed ERAs.
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