"The durable Cease has logged 942 1/3 innings since the start of the 2020 season, and he has never been on the big league injured list apart from a brief stint on the COVID-19 IL in 2021. Beyond this ability to stay on the mound, Cease misses a lot of bats (29.7% strikeout rate over the last five years), and he is a hard thrower with some of the best fastball spin rates in the league."
"Even with some deferred money involved, Cease's seven-year, $210MM pact is the largest free agent signing in Jays history, and it was the first indication that the Jays would again be shopping at the top of the market."
"The down side is that Cease has below-average control and he has been prone to giving up hard contact, which is why Cease's ERAs (like his 4.55 mark with the Padres in 2025) can be higher than his peripheral numbers would reflect."
The Blue Jays made significant moves to strengthen their pitching rotation by signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210MM deal, marking the largest free agent signing in franchise history. Cease brings durability and elite strikeout ability, having logged over 942 innings since 2020 with a 29.7% strikeout rate and exceptional fastball spin rates. However, he struggles with control and hard contact, resulting in higher ERAs than his peripheral statistics suggest. The team also invested in Cody Ponce with a three-year, $30MM contract, a right-hander returning from overseas play in Japan and the KBO League. The Blue Jays bid for top-tier talent but lost another free agent competition to the Dodgers.
#blue-jays-roster-moves #dylan-cease-signing #pitching-rotation-reinforcement #free-agency #mlb-contracts
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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