The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired arguably the top free-agent pitcher on the market, signing right-hander Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal. This addition is a massive boost to the rotation.

After the Blue Jays fell just short in the 2025 World Series, management decided to make a splash. This signing is a major statement to both the fanbase and the league, signalling their intent to return to the Fall Classic.

Cease has seven seasons of Major League experience. He was drafted out of high school in 2014 by the Chicago Cubs in the sixth round. After four seasons in the Cubs’ minor-league system, he moved across town to join the Chicago White Sox organization as part of the trade package for left-hander Jose Quintana. He was later traded to the Padres before the 2024 season, with the White Sox acquiring four players in return.

The right-hander has spent the past two years with the San Diego Padres. Toronto saw the durability and elite qualities Cease brings — but how do the numbers reflect that?

The new Blue Jays right-hander has produced some intriguing career statistics. In three separate seasons (2021, 2023, and 2024), he sat amongst the top starters in terms of games started.

Where things get unusual is in the command-related categories. During the shortened 2020 campaign, Cease led the league in walks with 34, and again in 2022 with 78 — the latter leading all of Major League Baseball. He also led the league in wild pitches in 2021 (13) and 2023 (14).

On the positive side, Cease led the NL in bWAR with a 6.4 mark in 2022. His last two seasons have been statistically appealing overall. In 2024, he finished 14–11 with a 4.1 WAR and recorded the only shutout in the league. His ERA was 3.47, paired with 224 strikeouts and 65 walks. In 2025, Cease posted an 8–12 record with a 4.55 ERA, striking out 215 batters while issuing 71 walks. He also led the league in strikeouts per nine innings (SO/9) with an 11.5 mark.

So what did the Blue Jays see in these numbers? A quality front-end starter who has proven himself in the role — with strikeout ability, the potential to be a win-factor, and a consistently respectable ERA.

Toronto also sees depth and durability. Cease has thrown 160 or more innings in five of his seven MLB seasons. This mirrors the workload of the pitchers the Blue Jays currently rely on, making him a natural fit in the rotation.

Cease stands 6-foot-2, boasting a strong athletic frame and sound pitching structure. His mechanics are fundamentally solid — balanced, symmetrical, and consistent. He transfers his weight well through his repeatable delivery. His arm action is somewhat funky and short, but his release point remains consistent. Cease flashes six pitches, though he heavily leans on two of them.

The right-hander features a knuckle-curve, sinker, sweeper, and changeup — all of which are supplementary offerings. Combined, these four pitches made up less than 10% of his total pitches thrown in 2025.

His primary weapons are his four-seam fastball and slider. The fastball plays up well despite the short arm action, averaging just over 97 mph with an 18.5% put-away rate. His slider is even more lethal, holding a 23% put-away rate — the highest among his most-used pitches. Cease generates plenty of groundouts and flyouts, finishing 2025 with a 62.7% AIR. He also recorded an 8.6% barrel rate and a 7.7% solid-contact percentage.

For Cease to remain effective, his command will need to be sharp. He must consistently attack the strike zone, limit free passes, and get ahead early in counts.

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