Over the last several offseasons, the Toronto Blue Jays have swung and missed on several big free agents (Shohei Ohtani, Carlos Correa, Aaron Judge, etc.).

This time, the Blue Jays are adding a pitcher with real swing-and-miss stuff.

Toronto has agreed to a seven-year, $210 million contract to bring right-hander Dylan Cease to Canada. The deal does include some deferred payments, which drop the “present day” value down to $182 million (which matters for luxury tax purposes, making the AAV $26 million). It is the largest free agent contract the Blue Jays have ever awarded (topping the six-year, $150 million deal given to George Springer).

Adding Cease to the top of a rotation that already features Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, José Berríos, and Trey Yesavage makes the group one of the most formidable in the sport. It also gives Toronto some protection, as Gausman and Bieber will both be free agents after the 2026 season (Berríos can also opt out of his contract).

Cease, who’ll turn 30 in late December, has a 3.88 ERA (110 ERA+) and 1,231 strikeouts (10.9 K/9, 28.6 K%) in 1,015.1 IP over his seven-year career with the White Sox and Padres, including two Top 5 finishes in Cy Young voting.

While the addition is intriguing, it’s worth noting that Cease does not have great career numbers against the other AL East teams (outside of Baltimore):

A pair of veteran right-handers will pitch again in Japan next season, as expected, which should make NPB fans pleased. Kenta Maeda has signed a two-year, 400 million Yen (roughly $2.56 million USD) contract with the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Elsewhere, the Yomiuri Giants have re-signed Masahiro Tanaka for another season.

Maeda revealed in September that he wanted to return to the NPB to finish his career. Rakuten had emerged as the favorite to sign him earlier this week.

Tanaka, meanwhile, accepted a pay cut to return to the Giants, per a report from Yahoo! Japan, agreeing to play for 100 million Yen (roughly $641,000 USD) this coming season. 2026 will be his 20th professional season. Tanaka became the fourth pitcher to win 200+ games between MLB and the NPB this season (joining Yu Darvish, Hideo Nomo, and Hiroki Kuroda).

It looked like the Baltimore Orioles had found a real relief weapon when Félix Bautista joined the bullpen in 2022. In fact, over that season and the next, he would be among the best relievers in baseball. The injuries struck. Bautista missed all of 2024 following Tommy John surgery before returning to pitch 34.2 innings this past season. Bautista’s year was cut short in August when he needed shoulder surgery. He will miss the whole 2026 season.

Baltimore entered the offseason with a clear need for multiple relievers. Team officials also suggested they would look for an addition with “late game experience” to help fill the void caused by Bautista’s absence. The Orioles acquired Andrew Kittredge from the Cubs right after the World Series. On Saturday, the team agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with free agent right-hander Ryan Helsley. Helsley can opt out after the first season and return to free agency.

Helsley, 31, spent the first seven seasons with the Cardinals. He posted a 2.67 ERA (154 ERA+) in 299.2 IP with 105 saves over that stretch, before St. Louis traded him to the Mets at last July’s deadline. He struggled mightily in New York, but that hasn’t appeared to limit his market in free agency. Helsley’s strikeout numbers (10.1 K/9, 25.0 K%) were solid, but both his HR% (3.2) and BB% (9.9) saw increases this past season.

Another late-inning reliever came off the free agent market late Monday. Devin Williams will be staying in New York …. but will sign with the Mets, agreeing to a three-year, $51 million contract. Per reports, Williams will receive $15 million annually (though up to $5 million of that is deferred) and a $6 million signing bonus.

The 31-year-old right-hander had a terribly inconsistent year with the Yankees in 2025. Williams continued to strike batters out at a better-than-league-average rate (13.1 K/9, 34.7 K%) and had a walk rate (3.6 BB/9, 9.7 BB%) bettered only during his rookie season. Still, he allowed a ton of hard contact, lost the closer job on two separate occasions during the season, and ultimately posted a career-worst 4.79 ERA (85 ERA+) over 62.0 innings.

Despite the rough season, several teams have been linked to Williams since the offseason began. He seemed likely to sign soon, so it’s also no surprise to see a deal come together before next week’s Winter Meetings. Presumably, Williams will get a chance to close out games for the Mets next season unless the team surprises and brings Edwin Díaz back, too. A reunion, even after the Williams signing, hasn’t been ruled out, but doesn’t seem likely.

Former Cardinals and Padres manager Mike Shildt has joined the Orioles, assisting with player development with the organization’s “upper levels of the minor leagues.” The 57-year-old abruptly resigned from his job with the Padres following the season, citing the wear and strain of a long season. Subsequent reporting suggested that personal differences between him and the team’s front office led to his decision.

Former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is reportedly joining the Rays in a similar role.

The Red Sox want Kristian Campbell to play winter ball. Presumably, the team is hoping he can find the swing that helped him rush through their minor league system. Campbell saw time at second base, center, and left field during his brief time in Boston and played five different positions at Triple-A, all while struggling offensively. Despite the versatility, there doesn’t appear to be an obvious fit in the Red Sox lineup. Campbell’s value to Boston might be highest as a trade chip.

Right-hander Matt Manning is heading to Korea for the 2026 season, signing a deal with the Samsung Lions. Manning, who’ll turn 28 in January, spent the 2025 season at Detroit’s Triple-A affiliate before a deadline trade to Philadelphia (where he only made two starts at Double-A before being shut down to injury).

Left-hander Jose Castillo, who was non-tendered by the Mets last month, has signed with the NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines. Castillo, who’ll be 30 in January, pitched for four teams in 2025 with a 3.94 ERA (108 ERA+) over 32.0 IP.