Here we go.
The Toronto Blue Jays have managed to agree, according to Jon Heyman and Bob Nightengale, on the terms of a seven-year contract valued at $30 million per season with Dylan Cease. So we're talking about $210 million in total – and there would be deferred money.
Many other columnists have confirmed everything.
It is the largest contract in franchise history awarded to a pitcher and awarded to a free agent. Only Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ($500 million contract extension) received a larger guaranteed amount under the terms of a contract with the Blue Jays.
It's not nothing.
The Blue Jays lost Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt to the free agency market recently. But here, Cease joins Trey Yesavage, two pitchers who will be there for the long term.
Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios will also be there, to complete a big rotation in 2026.
In 2025, Cease hasn't had a huge season, but he's capable of striking out guys and getting guys to hit the ground running. He has certainly proven that in his prime years, he can lead a rotation.
So even though he's a right-hander and probably has too big a contract, securing his services in 2026 (and beyond) is a huge move at this point in the offseason, when no other top pitcher has signed.
Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez and Tatsuya Imai are the others.
The Blue Jays have clearly set the tone for the market. They knew they were going to need reinforcement and they took action, to give themselves a chance of returning to play World Series games in 2026. #Momentum
The next step for the Blue Jays: go find another hitter. Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker (who will cost twice the price of Cease…) are names that are circulating a lot.
And afterward, the bullpen still needs help.
Josh Naylor and Dylan Cease are the biggest names to find buyers since the market opened. With the winter meetings starting in less than two weeks, things will start to happen.
