Free Agent Dylan Cease Seeks $100M+ Deal Despite 4.55 ERA in 2025

Free agent right-hander Dylan Cease, turning 30, is expected to command a lucrative long-term deal despite posting a 4.55 ERA in 2025, which ranked 43rd among qualified pitchers. He is one of only four pitchers with 30+ starts in each of the last five seasons and the only one with 200+ strikeouts in each of those five years, including a 29.8% strikeout rate in 2025. Cease has not been on the IL for an arm injury since his 2019 MLB debut. His career includes a 2.20 ERA in 2022 (2nd in AL Cy Young) and a 3.47 ERA in 2024 with the Padres.