(Kim Klement-Imagn Images)Brady FarkasSat, November 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM UTC·2 min readSpeaking in a social media video this week, former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar heaped praise upon the organization for signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year deal worth $210 million.
...They go out and sign, arguably, the best starting pitcher on the market for seven years, $210 million. ...I think everyone in baseball thought the Blue Jays already had a great starting rotation. They had some internal pieces they probably felt comfortable with, rounding out their rotation with (Kevin) Gausman and Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber. They also have (Jose) Berrios coming back. They've got guys like Eric Lauer and Bowden Francis kind of just waiting in the wings, and they go up and sure up an already good rotation, going out and getting arguably one of the best starting pitchers available on the market.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Blue Jays, their front office, and most importantly, their ownership group are not messing around. That place is unbelievable. What they were able to do with those renovations, the team they put out there was so lovable, likable. Not just for Blue Jay fans and people across Canada, but I think everyone across baseball kind of had a soft spot in their heart for the Blue Jays. What they were able to do with their cast of characters. And there's no more talks about the Blue Jays and being a small market team. This team is going out and spending cash and they're seeing what happens when you go out and put a good product on the field. People show up, and people were showing up for all 81 home games last year. And it's only going to get better and better...
About Dylan CeaseA strikeout machine, Cease is set to turn 30 years old in December. A seven-year veteran of the Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres, he's 65-58 for his career with a 3.88 ERA. Incredibly durable, he's made 32 starts or more in each of the last five seasons. He certainly has issues with command, but the swing-and-miss stuff is as good as anyone in the league.
Per Sportsnet Stats on social media:
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHighest strikeouts per 9 innings since 2021 (minimum 650 IP)
Dylan Cease: 11.26
Freddy Peralta: 10.91
Gerrit Cole: 10.77
Carlos Rodon: 10.67
Tarik Skubal: 10.44
Shockingly enough, he's never made an All-Star Game. He finished second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2022 and fourth in the National League Cy Young voting in 2024.
He'll pair with Berrios, Gausman, Yesavage and Bieber to make up the starting rotation in 2026. We discussed the idea of the Jays possibly trading any of their surplus arms in this post here.
About Kevin PillarNow 36 years old, Pillar spent 13 years in the big leagues, including parts of seven with Toronto. One of the best outfield defenders of the 2000s, he helped Toronto get to the ALCS in both 2015 and 2016. He was a lifetime .255 hitter with 114 home runs.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe is now a contributor to the popular "Foul Territory TV" show on social media.
RELATED BLUE JAYS STORIESANY PITCHERS ON THE MOVE? After signing Dylan Cease, should the Jays trade from any of their pitching surplus? CLICK HERE:
CEASE IN HISTORY: New Jays pitcher Dylan Cease is in a rare group of baseball history among current players. CLICK HERE:
DOES A MARTE TRADE MAKE SENSE? Could the Blue Jays trade for the All-Star infielder? CLICK HERE:
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