The Blue Jays have sent a clear message to MLB and the reigning champion Dodgers by continuing to load up their pitching staff this offseason. After last week’s stellar acquisition of ace Dylan Cease, the Canadian team has now completed a historic deal for right-handed pitcher Cody Ponce.
The deal, reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, is for three years and $30 million, a figure that sets a record for a player returning to Major League Baseball after starring in the Korean league.
Cody Ponce returns to the United States
Ponce, 31, returns to North America after revitalizing his career in Asia. While he was a second-round pick for the Brewers in 2015 and had a 5.86 ERA in his brief MLB appearances before 2022, his transformation on the Asian continent has been remarkable.
After three campaigns in Japan, his rise was meteoric in 2025 with the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO. The right-hander posted a dominant 2.04 ERA, where he also managed to win the KBO Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the end of the year.
Although Ponce acted as a reliever early in his MLB career, his success in Korea was as a full-time starter. With 29 starts this past season, he is expected to be at least a solid option for Toronto’s starting rotation.
Blue Jays could lose Bo Bichette
After signing Dylan Cease for $210 million, the Blue Jays have shown that they want to go all out and have made a big investment that ensures them a good player, but one that could have consequences.
For many, the contract offered to Cease was excessive and could hinder Bo Bichette’s continuity, as he is looking for a contract of around $208 million and the team may not have the right budget to make such an offer.
The Blue Jays’ spending policy could affect Bichette’s continuity and this has generated a great debate, as for many, the arrival of Cease is a little “overrated”.
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