While the San Diego Padres are gearing up to be buyers at the trade deadline, there is still a scenario in which they make some tough decisions. The Padres could both buy and sell at the deadline, which could involve two of their starters.
According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, the Padres are open to moving both Dylan Cease and Michael King at the deadline. While it’s unlikely that both would be moved at the deadline, the door for one to be moved is now open.
“He’ll (A.J. Preller) be open to trade impending free agents such as Dylan Cease and Michael King,” Bowden writes, “… but he won’t deal them if it hurts his team’s chances of winning the World Series this year.”
Such a line is hard not to cross. Moving on from Cease or King would hurt the rotation’s depth and put the Padres in a tricky spot. But if they land a strong return in a deal by moving them, they could add more help overall on the roster.
Sending King or Cease to a team in need of a starter to land a left fielder or a catcher could be on the table. The Boston Red Sox could be open to moving Jarren Duran if either Cease or King is appealing to them.
But the issue with both Cease and King goes beyond the fact that both will be free agents at the end of the year. The two Padres starters are dealing with issues that would lower their price tag on the market.
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King is on the injured list with a shoulder problem. While he’s expected back at some point this season, the injury would not help get a strong return, despite his strong start to the season: 2.59 ERA and 64 strikeouts through ten starts.
For Cease, the Padres at least have a healthy starter, though he’s struggled this season on the mound. Through 20 starts, Cease has a 4.64 ERA and a 3-9 record. But, he still has a lot of strikeouts, punching out 139 in 108.2 innings of work this season.
While both have cases to be made for and against them, the Padres under A.J. Preller could use them to get creative at the deadline. While they aren’t at their best, teams around baseball desperately need starters, and either could fetch a decent return.
This report is noteworthy since the Padres are now more open about their willingness to move on from either Cease or King. Typical contenders wouldn’t make either available, but the Padres aren’t in a position to be picky.
Preller and the Padres need to get creative, and moving one of Cease or King could help them round out their roster at the trade deadline.
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