TORONTO (AP) — Dylan Cease and the American League champion Toronto Blue Jays finalized their $210 million, seven-year contract on Tuesday, the largest free-agent deal in team history.

A right-hander who turns 30 on Dec. 28, Cease went 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA in 32 starts this year for San Diego, striking out 215 and walking 71 in 168 innings. His 29.8% strikeout rate was third-highest among qualified pitchers, behind Detroit’s Tarik Skubal (32.2%) and Boston’s Garrett Crochet (31.3%),

Cease spent his first five years with the Chicago White Sox, going 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA in 2022 despite leading the major leagues in walks. He finished second in AL Cy Young Award balloting.

He was traded to the Padres in March 2024 and went 14-11 with a 3.47 ERA that season, pitching a no-hitter and finishi

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