Dylan Cease was one of the best starting pitchers in free agency and signed a seven-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old right-hander will receive $210 million over seven seasons, according to Jon Heyman.

The defending champions The American League is betting on going deep again in the 2026 season and assembling a strong pitching rotation with Cease. The right-hander finished the 2025 season with the San Diego Padres, going 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA and 215 strikeouts in 32 appearances. However, Cease's best years were in the American League with the Chicago White Sox. He went 43-35 with a 3.83 ERA and 792 strikeouts in 123 appearances for the White Sox in his career. In 2022, he finished second in the American League Cy Young Award voting.

Dylan Cease solidifies a World Series contender rotation

The Blue Jays' rotation will consist of Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Jose Berrios, Shane Bieber, and Dylan Cease.

Gausman will have the final year of his contract in 2026, while Bieber opted for Toronto's $16 million option for next season.

Trey Yesavage will enter his rookie season after shining in the 2025 World Series and postseason.

Yesavage went 1-0 with a 3.21 ERA, 14 innings pitched, and 16 strikeouts in 3 appearances in 2025.

Toronto will look to repeat as AL East leaders and return to the World Series World Cup in which they lost seven games this year.