Blue Jays Bolster Rotation with Cody Ponce Signing, White Sox Pivot to Anthony Kay as KBO/NPB Market Heats Up

The 2025 MLB Winter Meetings are still a few days away, but the action is already heating up. With front offices descending on Orlando, the early wave of offseason moves is starting to take shape-and the Toronto Blue Jays are wasting no time making headlines.

Toronto has reportedly agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal with right-hander Cody Ponce, a move that adds yet another weapon to an already formidable rotation. Ponce, 31, is coming off a dominant campaign in the KBO where he didn’t just excel-he owned the league. After taking home both the MVP and Cy Young awards in Korea, he’s now set for a Major League return with a significant payday to match.

Ponce’s name had been floated as a potential fit for the White Sox, especially after the success of Erick Fedde, who made a similar jump from the KBO to the South Side in 2024. But while Fedde landed a two-year deal last year, Ponce’s market pushed further-both in years and dollars. That price tag likely nudged the White Sox out of contention, opening the door for Toronto to swoop in.

And swoop they did.

This marks the second major splash for the Blue Jays this offseason. Just days ago, they inked former White Sox ace Dylan Cease to a seven-year deal, signaling a clear intent to build a rotation that can go toe-to-toe with any in the American League. With Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, and Jose Berrios already in place, the addition of Ponce gives Toronto one of the deepest and most experienced staffs in baseball.

White Sox Respond with a Move of Their Own

While the Blue Jays continue to stack their rotation, the White Sox didn’t sit idle. Shortly after missing out on Ponce, Chicago pivoted to a familiar path-this time in the form of left-hander Anthony Kay.

Kay, also 31, has spent the last two seasons in Japan, working to re-establish himself after an up-and-down MLB career. His most recent campaign with Yokohama was a breakout-he posted an ERA under 2.00 across a full season, turning heads and earning another shot in the big leagues. The White Sox reportedly locked him in on a two-year, $12 million deal, betting that his success in NPB can translate back stateside.

It’s a move that mirrors the Fedde signing from a year ago: a low-risk, high-upside play on a pitcher who’s rebuilt his confidence and command overseas. For a team looking to find value without handing out long-term deals, it’s a smart pivot.

The KBO/NPB Pipeline Is Getting More Competitive

What we’re seeing now is the evolution of a once-underrated strategy. For years, savvy front offices quietly plucked pitchers from Korea and Japan, hoping to find hidden gems who could outperform their contracts. But that market is shifting-and fast.

With the recent success stories of Fedde and Merrill Kelly, the secret’s out. Teams are now willing to pay real money for proven production overseas, and that’s starting to tilt the playing field. Ponce’s $30 million deal might be the clearest sign yet that this is no longer a bargain bin.

That shift favors big-market teams like Toronto, who can afford to take these calculated risks at a higher price point. Smaller-market clubs, meanwhile, may find themselves getting priced out of a strategy they once relied on.

Where Do the White Sox Go from Here?

The White Sox could’ve matched the $10 million per year for Ponce. The resources are there.

But in recent years, ownership has been more conservative with spending, and that’s shaped the club’s approach to free agency. Rather than chase the top of the market, they’ve leaned into shorter-term deals with upside-like Kay’s.

That doesn’t mean the Sox are out of the running this offseason. But it does highlight a growing divide in how teams approach roster building.

Clubs willing to spend big are locking in talent earlier and more aggressively. Others are left to find value on the margins.

As the Winter Meetings officially kick off, expect more moves like these-teams taking early swings to shape their rotations and set the tone for the rest of the offseason. For now, the Blue Jays are making it clear: they’re not just trying to compete-they’re aiming to dominate.