The Toronto Blue Jays made the biggest signing of the offseason so far Wednesday, signing starting pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The Blue Jays, fresh off a devastating loss in Game 7 of the World Series, are taking the necessary steps to return to the Fall Classic, and MLB Network host Yonder Alonso believes they’ll do just that.
More news: Former Mets, Dodgers First Baseman Dies
“That’s what they needed the most,” Alonso said of the signing. “The Toronto Blue Jays needed another starter. Can you imagine the Toronto Blue Jays with a guy like Dylan Cease going into Game 5? Game 6? …You look at the Toronto Blue Jays right now, this is a team who can go back to the World Series.”
Cease had a down year in 2025, but kept himself consistent in the biggest part of his game: Strikeouts. Despite his ERA ballooning to 4.55 — more than a run higher than his mark in 2024 — Cease managed 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings, which led MLB. His 29.8 percent strikeout rate placed in the top 89 percent in MLB.
More news: Phillies Lose Pitcher to $1 Million Contract in Free Agency
On top of his elite strikeout numbers, Cease has been one of the most available pitchers in the league since the beginning of the 2021 season. His 162 starts in that time are the most by any pitcher, closely followed by new teammates José Berríos and Kevin Gausman, who both have 158 starts in that timeframe.
Cease has finished Top 5 in Cy Young award voting twice in his career, and received MVP votes in both seasons as well. He has a career ERA of 3.88 and has struck out 200 or more batters in each of the last five seasons.
Blue Jays starters ranked 20th in MLB in terms of ERA and 15th in strikeout percentage in 2025, so the addition of an elite strikeout pitcher such as Cease is an immense boost to their rotation. The right-hander will look to bounce back after a down year in 2026 as the Blue Jays look to lay claim to their first World Series title since 1993.
For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.