Toronto Blue Jays officially sign Dylan Cease to seven-year, $210 million contract

The deal, which is the richest contract handed by the Blue Jays to a pitcher, was first reported on Nov. 7 and includes deferred money, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi reported.

Cease's deal is the second-biggest financial commitment in team history, even when factoring in the deferrals, trailing only Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s $500-million, 14-year extension.

It is the largest free-agent signing in team history, moving ahead of George Springer's $150-million, six-year contract.

The 29-year-old had an 8-12 record and a 4.55 ERA last season with the San Diego Padres, while also recording 215 strikeouts over 168.0 innings pitched.

Cease gives the Blue Jays a front-of-the-rotation calibre starter to pair with Kevin Gausman atop a staff also set to include Shane Bieber, followed by rookie sensation Trey Yesavage and Jose Berrios, with Eric Lauer and Bowden Francis leading the depth options.

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. His hard-hit percentage of 37.5 was in the 72nd percentile, so he limits hard contact effectively. 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 Baseball's Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla.