Ponce signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Ponce will return to Major League Baseball for the first time since 2021 after playing three seasons in Japan, followed by one year in Korea. He was dominant this past season in the KBO, turning in a 1.89 ERA and 0.94 WHIP across 180.2 innings and taking home the league's MVP award. He'll now join a Blue Jays squad that is putting a clear emphasis on adding rotation talent after also signing Dylan Cease earlier in the offseason.

Ponce signed with the Hanwha Eagles on Thursday, Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.netreports.

EDGE Analysis

Ponce has pitched in Japan for the last three seasons, working exclusively out of the bullpen. He should be projected to maintain a similar role with the Eagles.

Ponce has signed with the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, Yahoo Japan reports.

EDGE Analysis

Ponce had spent the previous two seasons with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, collecting a 3.70 ERA and 135:45 K:BB across 172.2 frames. The 29-year-old last appeared in the majors in 2021.

Ponce was released Tuesday to sign with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Ponce is still just 27 years old, so it's possible he has success overseas and returns stateside in a few years as a more interesting pitcher. He hasn't shown much thus far in 55.1 innings at the highest level, striking out a modest 19.6 percent of opposing batters en route to a 5.86 ERA.

Ponce was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Ponce was sent down in mid-August, and he made four appearances at Triple-A Indianapolis since then. He posted a 1.13 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in eight innings during that time, and he'll be available as a low-leverage reliever with the major-league club.

Ponce was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Ponce made five appearances after he was called up by the Pirates in late July, and he posted a 6.23 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 13 innings during that time. However, he was charged with his third loss of the season Tuesday and will now head back to the minors.

Ponce (0-3) was tagged with the loss Tuesday against the Dodgers after allowing two runs on two hits and a walk while fanning two across two innings.

EDGE Analysis

Ponce entered the contest in the fifth inning but wasn't effective, and as a result, he picked up his third loss of the campaign. The right-hander has given up runs in all but two of his outings this season and has allowed at least two runs in three of his last four appearances. Those struggles translate to a ballooned 8.34 ERA across 22.2 innings on the year.

Ponce tossed five scoreless frames in long relief in Tuesday's 9-0 loss to the Brewers, scattering three hits and a walk while striking out five.

EDGE Analysis

Though Luis Oviedo picked up the start when Tyler Anderson was scratched ahead of the contest and later traded to the Mariners, Ponce essentially stepped into the rotation in Anderson's stead. Unfortunately, with Oviedo putting the Pirates in an 8-0 hole after two innings, Ponce's excellent outing was wasted. The Pirates could still elect to option Ponce to Triple-A Indianapolis in order to get a fresh arm for the bullpen heading into the weekend, but the right-hander put himself in good position to re-enter the rotation the next time a fifth starter is needed.

The Pirates recalled Ponce from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

The righty has appeared in three minor-league games since being optioned July 4, allowing six runs and striking out 11 batters in 13 innings. He most recently pitched six innings July 22, so he could be a candidate to start Tuesday's game for the Pirates after Tyler Anderson was scratched.

Ponce (arm) was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander was tagged for five runs over 1.2 innings during Saturday's start before being pulled with arm soreness, but it's apparently a minor injury since he was sent to the minors rather than the injured list. Ponce has struggled in three big-league outings this season, surrendering 12 earned runs on 21 hits across 9.2 frames.