Starting pitcher, free agent Dylan Keyswho has made at least 32 starts in each of the last five seasons, signed a seven-year, $210 million deal with the club. Toronto Blue Jayssources told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Wednesday.
In a deal that is pending physical completion, the Blue Jays will add to an already formidable team that won the American League pennant and reached the World Series, losing Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games.
Keys, who turns 30 next month, has been a reliable starter over the past five seasons, ranking fourth in pitcher WAR over that period, ahead of Pull Skubal, Max Fried And Framber Valdez.
The right-hander has alternated between dominant seasons and, given the quality of his stuff, disappointing ones. In 2022 and 2024, Keys finished second and fourth in Cy Young voting, respectively, going 28-19 with a 2.84 ERA. In 2023 and 2025, he went 15-21 with a 4.57 ERA.
Cease has a vertically oriented motion due to his higher slot, powerful fastball/breaking ball approach (at least 80% fastball/slider for both righties and lefties), and increased walk speed, sometimes combined with a high whiff rate.
His slider in particular fell last season, from leading the game in runs above average in 2024 to opposing hitters slugging .374 in 2025. However, Keys has a career-best 29.8% strikeout rate and 3.56 free-pitch rate, which are slight improvements over his average from 2021 to 2024.
Those peripherals, combined with his age and the shortcomings of other available starters, have made him one of the most attractive pitchers in free agency.
The Padres made Kezis a $22.025 million qualifying offer, which he declined by the November 18 deadline. Because he signed with a new team, San Diego will receive a compensatory draft pick after the fourth round.
Sixth round pick Chicago Cubs After leaving Georgia in 2014, Sis first went to a neighboring country. Chicago White Sox along with Eloy Jimenez in a 2017 deal led by Jose Quintanawas then acquired San Diego Padres for a package of prospects in March 2024.
In his five years as a starter from 2021 to 2025, Keys led the majors in strikeouts (1,106) as well as walks (361) and wild pitches (51).
ESPN's Alden Gonzalez and Keely McDaniel contributed to this report.
