The Chicago White Sox have signed former Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Anthony Kay to a two-year, $12 million contract, which includes a mutual option for 2028. After spending two successful years with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, where he led the league in groundball rate at 57.8% and set a franchise record with a 1.74 ERA over 155 innings, Kay is making his return to Major League Baseball.
Kay’s strong performance in Japan has garnered attention, although he received more lucrative offers to stay in Japan. Ultimately, the 2016 first-round draft pick opted to return to the MLB, signing a deal with the White Sox that will pay him $5 million in both 2026 and 2027, along with a $2 million buyout option for 2028.
Prior to his stint in Japan, Kay pitched in the majors from 2019 to 2023 with the Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, and New York Mets, accumulating a 5.59 ERA over 44 games. He was notably included in the trade that sent Marcus Stroman from the Blue Jays to the Mets in July 2019.
As Kay re-enters the major leagues, he brings with him a renewed sense of competitiveness after his time abroad, and fans of the White Sox will be eager to see how he utilizes his improved skills and experience in the upcoming seasons.