Blue Jays signing KBO MVP Cody Ponce to three-year, $30 million contract

The Blue Jays proceed to load up on arms this offseason.

Toronto is finalizing a deal to herald right-handed pitcher Cody Ponce on a three-year, $30 million deal, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Tuesday.

It marks a report contract for a pitcher returning to america from South Korea, The Athletic reported.

The American League champions already added former Padres righty Dylan Stop on a $210 million contract final week, and bringing in Ponce ought to assist increase the workers.

The 31-year-old — a second-round decide by the Brewers in 2024 — had a 5.86 ERA within the massive leagues and hasn’t pitched stateside since 2021, however he’s rotated his profession abroad in Japan and South Korea.

After three seasons in Japan, the place he held a 4.54 ERA, Ponce actually made a leap in 2025 with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Group.

He posted a 2.04 ERA with a league-record 252 strikeouts over 180 2/3 innings. He received the league’s MVP at 12 months’s finish.

It’s not clear but how the Blue Jays plan to make use of Ponce, however after pitching in a mixture of aid for the Pirates and Brewers earlier within the decade, he pitched as a full-time starter in 29 video games in Korea this previous season. So, at minimal, he ought to be a rotation possibility.

The remainder of Toronto’s rotation will possible embody Stop, Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber and Jose Berríos as they give the impression of being to carry off the Yankees within the American League East once more.