Jays Add Another Starter

 

Following the Dylan Cease shocker — the kind of signing that left Blue Jays fans staring at their phones in total disbelief — the Jays have doubled down. This time, they’ve inked Cody Ponce to a three-year, $10 million-per-season deal. And let’s be honest… most fans immediately said, “Who?”

Fair question.

Ponce started out in the Brewers organization, then moved to Pittsburgh, where he posted a 1–7 MLB record before taking his talents overseas in 2022. In Japan, he split three seasons between the Nippon Ham Fighters and the Tohoku Golden Eagles, finishing with a combined 10–16 record and a 4.54 ERA. Those numbers won’t exactly have you ordering a custom jersey…

…but then there was last season.

Ponce went to Korea and turned into a complete monster on the mound. Pitching for the Hanwha Eagles, he put up a ridiculous 17–1 record, a 1.89 ERA, and punched out 252 batters on his way to league MVP. That’s not just improvement — that’s a full-on career plot twist.

Now, yes, the MLB is a different beast — we get it. But at $10 million a year, this is a classic low-risk, potentially sky-high reward move. If it doesn’t work? The contract isn’t going to destroy the payroll. But if it clicks? The Jays will look like absolute geniuses. And with Pete Walker in the lab tinkering like a pitching wizard, there’s real reason to believe Toronto can unlock something special here.

Also, don’t forget: Eric Lauer came from Korea too… and he turned into a very welcome surprise for this team.

Time will tell how Ponce fits in, but one thing is for sure — the Blue Jays are cooking up something interesting this offseason. Buckle up.