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11/26 19:51 CST Blue Jays and free-agent pitcher Dylan Cease agree to $210
million, 7-year deal, AP source says
Blue Jays and free-agent pitcher Dylan Cease agree to $210 million, 7-year
deal, AP source says
By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer
Free-agent pitcher Dylan Cease and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a $210
million, seven-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The
Associated Press on Wednesday night.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was
pending a physical and had not been announced.
Cease would join a terrific rotation with the reigning American League
champions. The right-hander, who turns 30 next month, went 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA
in 32 starts last season for the San Diego Padres. He struck out 215 batters
and walked 71 in 168 innings.
Cease spent his first five years with the Chicago White Sox, including a 2022
season in which he went 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA despite leading the majors in
walks. He finished second in AL Cy Young Award balloting.
After one more year in Chicago, he was traded to San Diego in March 2024 and
went 14-11 with a 3.47 ERA that season, finishing fourth in NL Cy Young Award
voting.
His numbers on the mound slipped this year but he still reached 32 starts for a
fifth straight season.
Cease has also had five consecutive years with at least 214 strikeouts, which
helps offset his penchant for walks.
Cease was one of the top free-agent pitchers on the market this offseason. He's
set to join the Blue Jays, who won the AL East this year and advanced all the
way to Game 7 of a thrilling World Series before losing to the Los Angeles
Dodgers 5-4 in 11 innings.
Toronto's rotation already features Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber
and Jos Berros. Chris Bassitt and 41-year-old Max Scherzer, the three-time Cy
Young Award winner who started Game 7 of the World Series, became free agents
this month.
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AP Baseball Writers Noah Trister and Mike Fitzpatrick contributed to this
report.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
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