Breaking: Mets’ Top Pitching Target Dylan Cease Shocks Fans by Choosing Blue Jays—What This Means for the Season!

The Mets’ offseason just took an unexpected twist, and not the kind they were hoping for. Dylan Cease, a top-tier righty they had their sights on, is reportedly signing a massive seven-year, $210 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays—pending that physical, of course. This isn’t just any contract; it includes deferrals, making the Blue Jays’ pitching rotation an even more formidable force heading into 2025. With Cease joining the likes of Kevin Gausman, former AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber, promising rookie Trey Yesavage, and Jose Berrios, Toronto’s rotation is suddenly a nightmare for the Yankees and every other contender in the American League. Cease’s last season might not have dazzled with an 8-12 record and a 4.55 ERA, but his strikeout prowess remains elite—11.5 K/9 over 32 starts and over 200 strikeouts in five straight years speaks volumes.

Now, the Mets find themselves with one less ace to chase. David Stearns, the team’s president of baseball operations, has made it crystal clear that bolstering the starting rotation is mission critical this winter. While names like Framber Valdez, Michael King, Ranger Suarez, and Japanese phenom Tatsuya Imai are still out there, it’s also the trade market where the Mets will likely turn their gaze—potentially eyeing elite arms like Sandy Alcantara or Edward Cabrera from Miami, Brewers’ Freddy Peralta, or even two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, who could be on the move due to his expiring contract. The puzzle pieces for the Mets’ rotation are still waiting to be set… but the hunt just got a bit more urgent.

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The Mets will have one less starting pitcher to try and sign this offseason.

Right-hander Dylan Cease is signing a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays pending a physical, according to multiple reports. The deal will include deferrals, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports.

The move immediately makes the Blue Jays, a World Series team in 2025, more dangerous to the Yankees and the rest of the American League. Cease will likely lead a rotation that already includes Kevin Gausman, former AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber, young phenom Trey Yesavage and Jose Berrios.

Cease is coming off a relatively down year, pitching to an 8-12 record and a 4.55 ERA across 32 starts. His strikeout rate was still very high (11.5) and he has 200-plus strikeouts in each of the past five seasons.

The Mets will now look elsewhere for potential starting pitching. President of baseball operations David Stearns has made it known that upgrades to the rotation are a priority for the team this offseason. Framber Valdez, while not necessarily on the team’s radar, is arguably the top remaining free agent starting pitcher this winter. Michael King, Ranger Suarez and Japanese star Tatsuya Imai are also still available.

As for the trade market, the Mets could look to bring in Sandy Alcantara or Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins, or Brewers ace Freddy Peralta. And then there’s two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, who is on an expiring contract, could be available from the Tigers for the right price.