The Chicago Cubs were never going to go to seven years and $210 million for Dylan Cease. He outpaced MLB Trade Rumors' projection by more than $20 million, with the Toronto Blue Jays showing they're ready to leave no stone unturned in their quest to finish the job in 2026.
But the fact that the Jays included deferred money, something Jed Hoyer and the Cubs have, to this point, refused to do in free agent contracts, suggests the team is putting itself behind the eight-ball heading into a pivotal offseason.
Deal includes deferrals, source says.