10:04pm: The Rays are closing in on a deal with free agent left-hander Steven Matz, reports Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times. The deal is still pending a physical. Matz spent the 2025 season working out of the bullpen. The 11-year big league veteran split the season between the Cardinals and Red Sox. He combined for 76 2/3 innings of 3.05 ERA ball.
Ponce was selected 55th overall in the 2015 draft, but didn't have much of a big league career. The right-handed pitcher made his big league debut five seasons later with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020, posting a 3.18 ERA and 6.66 FIP in 17 innings pitched. He made 15 more appearances the following season, authoring a 7.04 ERA and 4.94 FIP in 38.1 innings pitched.
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.