TORONTO - Right-hander Dylan Cease is joining the Toronto Blue Jays on the largest free-agent contract in franchise history.

The Blue Jays say that Cease and the team have agreed to a seven-year deal worth US$210 million.

The deal was first reported last week.

Cease made his big-league debut in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox. He was 8-12 with a 4.55 earned-run average for the San Diego Padres this past season but was sixth in Major League Baseball with 215 strikeouts.

Cease has made at least 32 starts in each of the last five years.

He's tabbed to be a front-line starter for the American League champions in a rotation that will likely include Shane Bieber, Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage and Jose Berrios.

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

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