There aren’t many baseball analysts who felt right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease would get a seven-year contract.
Count this old scout among those skeptical that Cease, who turns 30 December 28, can perform admirably for the next seven seasons.
The Blue Jays and Cease have agreed on a $210M contract for Cease, which expires in 2032.
True, the Blue Jays were very close to winning the 2025 World Series. A break here, or a break there, and the Blue Jays could have taken out the Los Angeles Dodgers, the eventual World Champions.
It wasn’t meant to be, and now, the Blue Jays are flexing the financial resources of team owner, Rogers Communications Inc.
Rogers Communication Inc. is one of the largest telecommunications and media conglomerates in Canada.
The message is clear. The Blue Jays will spend what it takes to win a World Championship.
The new contract for Cease is among several short, and long-term contracts the Blue Jays have agreed upon in recent years.
The Blue Jays are spending an incredible amount of money to try to bring their fans a coveted World Series Championship.
It is one thing to say the Blue Jays believe in investing in their players, it is another to see it in black and white.
Here is a list of the financial commitments Blue Jays ownership has approved in recent years:
-Vladimir Guerrero Jr.=14 years, $500M (2025-2039)
-Dylan Cease=7 years, $201M (2026-2032
-George Springer=6 years, $150M (2021-2026)
-Kevin Gausman=5 years, $110M (2022-2026)
-Andres Gimenez=7 years, $106.5M (2023-2029)
-Jose Berrios=7 years, $131M (2022-2028)
-Shane Bieber=2 years, $26M (2025-2026)
-Anthony Santander=5 years, $92.5M (2025-2029)
-Alejandro Kirk=5 years, $58M (2026-2030)
-Jeff Hoffman=3 years, $33M (2025-2027)
-Myles Straw=5 years, $25M (2022-2026)
-Yimi Garcia=2 years, $15M (2025-2026)
-Yariel Rodriguez=5 years, $32M (2024-2027)
Expiring Contracts:
It is important to note the contracts for Bieber and Gausman, both high quality starting pitchers, expire after the coming season.
Cease offers insurance if the Blue Jays can’t, or won’t sign either Bieber or Gausman to extensions.
George Springer, an impactful outfielder who was at his best in the postseason run, will be playing on an expiring contract.
What will the Blue Jays do about extending those three highly regarded components of the Blue Jays roster?
Clearly, a long-term rotation that includes Cease, Bieber, and Gausman for years to come is attractive to the Blue Jays front office.
Young rookie, Trey Yesavage, has bolstered the Blue Jays rotation. Only 22, Yesavage will be under Blue Jays control until he can become a free agent in 2032.
Is Cease worthy of his new contract? That’s in the eye of the beholder. But the Blue Jays clearly think he will justify their faith in his abilities.
In this recent article, this writer indicated the Chicago Cubs might sign Dylan Cease to a potential six-year contract, with an annual value of $30M..
As it turns out, Cease will get the annual $30 value, but he got seven years from Toronto.
The Bo Bichette Issue:
Not lost in the signing of Dylan Cease is the fact that infielder Bo Bichette is a free agent.
Bichette, who has played alongside Vlad Guerrero Jr. at every level of both of their minor league and big league careers, has been a consequential presence in the Blue Jays lineup.
In the 2025 World Series, Bichette hit .348/.444/.478/.923. with a homer and six RBIs. He was a major force in the Blue Jays outstanding effort against the Dodgers.
Bichette has missed time with several injuries; including knee issues, as well as calf and quad strains.
Bichette’s injury history, and his less than stellar play at shortstop may be having an impact on the Blue Jays in particular, and his overall market in general.
It seems clear the Blue Jays want to move Andres Gimenez to shortstop, where he plays Gold Glove caliber defense.
That could open second base for Bichette. Or it may not. The Blue Jays may be very content to play the gritty Ernie Clement at second base.
Conclusions:
Rogers Communications seems ready, willing, and able to provide the financial resources for the Toronto Blue Jays to take the final step in their quest for a World Championship.
Signing right-hander Dylan Cease to a seven-year contract is the latest step in their financial commitment to their ultimate goal.