Right-hander Dylan Cease throws during the first inning of Game 2 of the San Diego Padres' National League wild-card game against the Cubs on Oct. 1, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

By The Canadian Press

Blue Jays and pitcher Dylan Cease agree to seven-year deal worth US$210 million

Dec 2, 2025 | 1:48 PM

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to terms with right-hander Dylan Cease on the largest free-agent contract in franchise history.

The seven-year deal, first reported last week, is worth US$210 million, the Blue Jays said Tuesday in a statement.

Cease, 29, gives the American League champions another front-line starter in a rotation that’s expected to include Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage and Jose Berrios.

Cease, who made his big-league debut in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox, was 8-12 with a 4.55 earned-run average for the San Diego Padres this past season. He made 32 starts and was sixth in the major leagues with 215 strikeouts.

Cease, agent Scott Boras and Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins planned to hold an introductory news conference next week at Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla.

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Cease led all qualified pitchers last season with a 33.4-per-cent whiff rate. It was the fifth straight year that he made at least 32 starts and posted over 200 strikeouts.

First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. signed the biggest contract in Blue Jays history last April when he inked a 14-year extension worth $500 million.

The previous franchise high for a free-agent signing was the six-year, $150-million deal that designated hitter/outfielder George Springer signed in 2021.

Later Tuesday, the Blue Jays were finalizing a three-year, $30 million deal with right-hander Cody Ponce, according to multiple reports.

The 31-year-old Ponce recently won MVP honours in the Korea Baseball Organization with the Hanwha Eagles. He went 17-1 with a 1.89 ERA along with 252 strikeouts in 180 2/3 innings.

Ponce, who was a second-round draft pick of Milwaukee’s in 2015, has not pitched in the majors since 2021 with Pittsburgh. He had a 7.04 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 11 walks over 38.1 innings that season.

Cease finished second in AL Cy Young Award voting in 2022 with the White Sox after posting a 14-8 mark with a 2.20 ERA.

The Milton, Ga., native was fourth in the voting in 2024. Cease was 14-11 with the Padres that season and had a 3.47 ERA.

Cease was considered one of the top free-agent starters on the market this off-season.

He joins a Blue Jays team that’s coming off its first East Division title since 2015.

Toronto went on to beat the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners in the playoffs before falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a World Series that went the seven-game distance.

The Blue Jays will kick off their 2026 season on March 26 against the visiting Athletics.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 2, 2025.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press