The San Diego Padres are off to a hot start in 2025. They currently lead the National League West with a 17-8 record, the second-best in Major League Baseball.
Everything has been clicking for San Diego thus far, and they remain at the top of the division despite losing Luis Arraez due to a concussion.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t look to trade some pieces at the deadline if the price is right. They have a few players on expiring contracts that could bring back solid hauls.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer declared that right-hander Dylan Cease’s trade stock has risen.
“Cease’s whiff (55th percentile) and strikeout (71st percentile) rates are already above average. And don’t worry, he’s struck out 12 and walked only two in two starts since shaving his beard,” Rymer writes.
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In five starts, Cease has struggled. The 29-year-old right-hander is 1-1 but owns a 6.04 ERA. However, his underlying metrics are still good.
Because the Padres are in contention, a trade of Cease may be unlikely, as they’ll need somebody to anchor their rotation down the stretch.
Then again, the Milwaukee Brewers were leading the NL Central when they traded Josh Hader to the Padres, so it’s not impossible.
Cease could still bring back a haul of young talent from a fellow contender, and it wouldn’t be the worst thing for the Padres to capitalize on that value.
We’ll see where things stand at the deadline.
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