White Sox Add Anthony Kay While Blue Jays Go Big with Cody Ponce and Dylan Cease

The offseason pitching carousel is spinning fast, and two AL teams are taking very different rides. While the Blue Jays made headlines with a blockbuster signing of Dylan Cease and a splashy deal for KBO MVP Cody Ponce, the White Sox are playing a more calculated game, bringing left-hander Anthony Kay back from Japan on a two-year, $12 million deal.

Let’s start north of the border, where Toronto has gone from rotation stability to outright surplus. Before adding Ponce, they already had five starters locked in, including Shane Bieber, who picked up his $16 million option, and now Cease, who inked a seven-year, $210 million deal. With that kind of depth, the Jays now have the flexibility to explore trade possibilities for José Berríos, who suddenly looks like a valuable piece in a market always hungry for reliable arms.

Ponce, fresh off dominating the KBO, was arguably the most intriguing overseas name this winter, and the Jays didn’t hesitate. Three years, $30 million is a significant commitment, but it speaks to how much they believe in his upside. He might not crack the Opening Day rotation, but he gives Toronto a high-ceiling option and the kind of organizational depth that contenders covet.

Kay Returns Stateside to Reinvent Himself in Chicago

While the Jays are stacking aces, the White Sox are building something a little different-something a little more experimental. Anthony Kay’s return to MLB after a stint in Japan isn’t going to dominate headlines, but it could quietly pay off for a team that’s still reshaping its identity.

Kay steps into a rotation spot vacated by Martín Pérez and Yoendrys Gómez, both of whom are now gone via free agency and trade, respectively. That leaves a clear opening, and early indications are that Kay will get a shot to start. The rest of the rotation-Shane Smith, Davis Martin, Sean Burke, and Jonathan Cannon-remains intact for now, but Kay adds a left-handed wrinkle the group was missing.

What makes Kay’s return especially intriguing is how he’s evolved. In a recent interview, he talked about shifting from a four-seam-heavy approach to leaning more on his two-seamer-a pitch that fits right in with what the White Sox have been encouraging across their staff.

Smith and Gómez both found success late last season by adding a two-seamer. Cannon and Burke are also working on refining their own versions.

It’s part of a broader philosophy under new pitching coach Zach Bove, who referenced the Royals’ recent success with pitch-shape diversity-think Kris Bubic’s sinker and Noah Cameron’s cutter.

In other words, Kay isn’t starting from scratch. He’s already done the hard part-reworking his arsenal overseas.

Now it’s about seeing how that plays against major league hitters. If it clicks, the White Sox may have found a budget-friendly lefty who can hold down a spot while the rest of the rotation develops.

Still, there’s a lingering question about the rotation’s overall identity. There’s talent, no doubt.

But there’s also a sense of uncertainty-plenty of arms, but not many defined roles or standout strengths. It’s a bit like a football team with two quarterbacks: if you’ve got five pitches, but none that dominate both sides of the plate, you might not have the kind of consistency that sustains success over a full season.

Rays Take a Swing on Cedric Mullins

The White Sox weren’t the only team making moves. Tampa Bay added to the center field market by signing Cedric Mullins to a one-year, $7 million deal. It’s a classic Rays play-buy low on a player with upside and versatility.

Mullins is coming off a tough 2025, where he hit .216/.299/.391 over 133 games split between the Orioles and Mets. His defense in center was a mixed bag-Statcast called it average, while Defensive Runs Saved wasn’t so kind.

Still, he brings speed, durability, and the ability to handle the strong side of a platoon. For a team like Tampa that thrives on maximizing matchups, there’s value here.

But make no mistake-this is a bet on a bounce-back. Mullins hit just .198/.263/.355 over the final five months of the season.

That’s a long slump, and it raises questions about whether his decline is temporary or part of a longer trend. At $7 million, it’s not a massive risk, but it’s also not pocket change for a team that watches every dollar.

This signing also puts a new lens on the trade chatter surrounding Luis Robert Jr. The White Sox star is owed $20 million, and while Mullins isn’t in the same tier, his deal could serve as a benchmark for teams gauging the cost of center field help.

If any club is talking trade for Robert, they may expect the Sox to eat some of that salary-something that hasn’t been a hallmark of ownership in the past. Still, the decision to exercise Robert’s option despite injuries and underperformance suggests the front office might be motivated to get something in return, even if it means getting creative.

Final Thoughts

The White Sox aren’t chasing headlines, but they are quietly reshaping their pitching staff with arms that fit a clear developmental mold. Kay joins a group that’s still trying to define itself, but there’s a plan in place-and that’s more than you could say a year ago.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are loading up for a serious run, and the Rays are doing what they do best: finding value in the margins. The offseason is far from over, but the early moves are already setting the tone for what should be a fascinating 2026 season.