On the surface, the Toronto Blue Jays overpaying for Dylan Cease did the New York Yankees a favor. After all, the $210 million they bestowed upon him was roughly $30-$40 million more than he was projected to get.
Cease is one of the most frustratingly inconsistent pitchers in the league. He's been on a Jekyll and Hyde stretch of even-odd year streaks, with top-five Cy Young finishes in 2022 (second) and 2024 (fourth) and 4.50+ ERA seasons sandwiched in between.
Even with the inconsistencies put aside, Cease wasn't really a fit for the starter-needy Yankees.