Part 4/11:
The Blue Jays’ Perspective: Buying High or Low?
While the sizeable $210 million investment might suggest they paid a premium, the expectation is that Cease will perform closer to his peak years rather than his inconsistent past. The Blue Jays aren’t necessarily buying low; rather, they’re purchasing what they expect to see from him moving forward.
Advanced metrics and scouting suggest that Cease’s true value may be underestimated, with some analytics indicating a lower era (around 3.4 to 3.5) than his raw statistics imply. The Jays believe Cease possesses the motivation and tools to reach that higher potential—a sentiment echoed by his camp, which is reportedly highly motivated to maximize his performance.