The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to terms with right-hander Dylan Cease on the largest free-agent contract in franchise history.

The seven-year deal, first reported last week, is worth US$210 million, the Blue Jays said Tuesday in a statement.

Cease, 29, gives the American League champions another front-line starter in a rotation that’s expected to include Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage and Jose Berrios.

Cease, who made his big-league debut in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox, was 8-12 with a 4.55 earned-run average for the San Diego Padres this past season. He made 32 starts and was sixth in the major leagues with 215 strikeouts.

Cease, agent Scott Boras and Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins planned to hold an introductory news conference next week at Major League Base

See Full Page