"November 26th: The Blue Jays are making a major splash at the top of the rotation. Toronto is in agreement with Dylan Cease on a seven-year contract, pending a physical. It's reportedly a $210MM guarantee for the Boras Corporation client, though it includes deferred money that'll drop the average annual value for luxury tax purposes to roughly $26MM. That puts the net present value closer to $182MM."
"In two of the past three seasons, his ERA has jumped to the mid-4.00s, including a 4.55 mark in 2025. However, in just about every other respect, he has been great. He has been incredibly durable. His control isn't amazing but he has racked up strikeouts. He has kept his fastball velocity in the upper 90s, while also featuring a slider, knuckle curve and changeup."
"Though Cease debuted back in 2019, he has actually never been on the major league injured list, apart from a very brief stint on the COVID list in 2021. He made 12 starts in the shortened 2020 season and has taken the ball at least 32 times in each full season since. In total, he's made 174 starts since the start of 2020, which leads all major league pitchers."
Toronto signed Dylan Cease to a seven-year deal reportedly guaranteeing $210 million, with deferred payments lowering the luxury-tax average to about $26 million and net present value around $182 million. The contract represents the largest open-market free-agent signing in franchise history, surpassing previous open-market deals. Cease, nearly 30, has experienced ERA spikes to the mid-4.00s in recent seasons but combines exceptional durability, high strikeout rates, and sustained upper-90s fastball velocity. Cease mixes a slider, knuckle curve and changeup, has made 174 starts since 2020, posted a 3.88 ERA from 2020–25, a 28.9% strikeout rate and a 9.9% walk rate.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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