Gobble-gobble

Baseball is many things, but it is not a meritocracy. Not when you look at Dylan Cease’s new contract. The soon-to-be 30-year old starter is reported to have signed a seven-year deal with the Blue Jays worth $210 million. This after the righthander posted a 8-12 record with a 4.55 ERA for the Padres last season. On his career, Cease has 65 wins and 58 losses to go with a 3.88 ERA and three complete games out of 188 starts. It was once said that, “Chicks did the long ball.” GMs also dig strikeouts beyond reason. Cease has 1231 in 1015.1 innings pitched. This is a contract based more on that ratio than anything else. In comparison, the Red Sox committed highway robbery last season when they gave Garrett Crochet a six-year, $170 million extension (including an opt-out after year five). In either case, nice to be an ex-White Sox starter.