3 Best Trade Destinations For San Diego Padres RHP Dylan Cease

3 Best Trade Destinations For San Diego Padres RHP Dylan Cease

Dylan Cease is set to become a free agent after this season, and the San Diego Padres are keenly aware of this reality, prompting them to reportedly entertain trade offers for the 29-year-old right-hander. If the Padres lack confidence in their ability to re-sign Cease or their chances of contending for the National League pennant, it makes sense for them to consider a midseason trade.

Cease’s time with the Padres (2024-2025) has been quite unusual. At his peak, he is a formidable strikeout pitcher with the capabilities of an ace. hollis jefferson pba However, at times, his reliance on just two pitches—the slider and the four-seamer—has caught up with him. For example, in 2024, he had a 3 ifugao rice wine.47 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and achieved 224 strikeouts, just two seasons after boasting a 2.20 ERA with the Chicago White Sox. This year, though, his performance has dipped, reflected in a 4.59 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.

When all is considered, the right-hander remains a top-of-the-rotation talent who is durable, capable of pitching deep into games, and firmly in his prime nu vs dlsu finals schedule. Cease could be the game-changer for a contending team.

Here Are The Three Best Trade Fits For Cease

3. Toronto Blue Jays

Dylan Cease has led his league in starts during three of the last four seasons. The Blue Jays are performing exceptionally well this year but could benefit from another quality arm, and Cease would fit that bill perfectly.

Toronto features a mix of reliable veteran starters like Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, and Max Scherzer, alongside left-hander Eric Lauer, who is enjoying a breakout season (2.61 ERA in 16 appearances, 10 starts). However, their rotation has a mid-level 4.05 ERA, ranking 19th in Major League Baseball, and they have navigated through several challenges this season.

Adding Cease would introduce a strikeout pitcher to their playoff rotation. The Blue Jays already boast a strong offense and a capable bullpen, but to fend off the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the AL East and pursue a deep playoff run, they need to upgrade their rotation further. Toronto could offer the Padres two of the three pitching prospects: Khal Stephen, Johnny King, and Kendry Rojas for Cease.

That said, the Blue Jays might also perceive Cease as an unnecessary addition to an already veteran-heavy rotation and, considering the unpredictable nature of this season, may decide against proceeding with a trade.

2. New York Mets

Dylan Cease began his career with the Chicago White Sox, and should he join the Mets, he would instantly become New York’s most reliable MLB starting pitcher.

The Mets entered spring training with numerous questions surrounding their starting rotation, most of which have seen positive developments thus far. David Pederson has been impressive; Clay Holmes has made a strong transition as a starting pitcher; and Kodai Senga has excelled. However, fellow right-handers Griffin Canning, Tylor Megill, and Frankie Montas, along with left-hander Sean Manaea, have missed significant time due to injuries. Cease would provide a sustainable option in the rotation.

By bringing in Cease, it alleviates some pressure from Pederson, Holmes, and, when returning from injury, Megill, who have been performing at career-high levels. The Mets have effectively revitalized veteran pitchers recently (such as Manaea and Luis Severino), and adding Cease—who would enhance their strikeout numbers (currently 19th in MLB with 7. pacquiao vs mayweather 202391 strikeouts per nine innings)—could be a game-changer for them.

While the Mets currently boast the best starting rotation ERA in baseball (2.89) heading into Friday, they’re also contending with the Philadelphia Phillies for the NL East title and aiming to avoid the wild-card round. Solidifying their rotation while considering a regression to the mean makes strategic sense for the Mets, and doing this without sacrificing their farm system should be a priority. A potential trade package for Cease could include pitching prospects and former second-round picks Brandon Sproat and Jonathan Santucci alongside versatile 2023 draft pick A.J. Ewing.

However, the Mets may hesitate to trade for Cease if they feel Senga is solidly positioned as their ace. They might opt to explore alternative trades focusing on bolstering their bullpen, especially after having already acquired left-handed reliever Gregory Soto 777pubcom.

1. Chicago Cubs

Dylan Cease recorded an American League-best 6.4 WAR among pitchers in 2022. In 1980, Steve Winwood famously said, “while you see a chance, take it.” The Cubs should heed that advice, as they have a team capable of winning the World Series. Enhancing their rotation with Cease could elevate their aspirations toward that goal.

The Cubs in 2024 were built on strong starting pitching. This season, they carry a decent 3.77 ERA, which ranks just 13th in MLB. Other than Matthew Boyd and a healthy Shota Imanaga, their rotation has been unpredictable. Additionally, Justin Steele is sidelined for the year due to Tommy John surgery, and Javier Assad has yet to pitch this season owing to an oblique injury.

Cease would bolster the Cubs with powerful right-handed pitching, adding a strikeout artist to a rotation currently ranked 23rd in MLB with 7.63 strikeouts per nine innings. His addition would also ease manager Craig Counsell’s reliance on young pitchers Cade Horton and Ben Brown to step up. With the Cubs holding the best bullpen ERA in the league (2.45) and a lineup that’s aggressively hitting, their rotation should be capable of more. Ignoring the need to improve this aspect of the team would be a misstep considering the Los Angeles Dodgers are still competing fiercely to enhance their roster.

The worst-case scenario: the Cubs trade for Cease, do not win the World Series, and he leaves via free agency. Back in 2016, the Cubs traded infielder Gleyber Torres and others to secure star closer Aroldis Chapman, ultimately winning the World Series but losing Chapman in free agency afterward. If given the chance to reverse that trade knowing Torres would turn into an All-Star middle infielder, they would still make the trade again. The deadline for trades is about winning the ultimate prize, not just coming close to beating the Dodgers.

Chicago’s trade proposal for Cease could focus on right-handers Jaxon Wiggins and rising star Ryan Gallagher, along with infield prospect Pedro Ramirez.

Do you think Cease will be traded, and if yes, which team do you believe is the best fit for him?