The Pittsburgh Pirates likely lost one potential trade partner for Mitch Keller when the division-rival Cardinals shipped Sonny Gray to Boston. It appears that another logical landing spot is also off the table.
In what marked the first nine-figure free-agent splash of the offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays swooped in out of nowhere and landed ace Dylan Cease. The right-hander will receive a seven-year, $210 million contract from the defending American League champions.
Toronto was always expected to add another starting pitcher to a rotation that is primed to feature veteran stalwarts Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, and Jose Berrios, along with rookie phenom Trey Yesavage.