After falling short of the World Series, the San Diego Padres are reportedly looking at cutting down the organization’s projected $215 million payroll for next season.
According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, one of the moves the team is considering may come as quite a shock: trading away staff ace Dylan Cease.
According to Acee: “There is no indication any deal is imminent, but this is more than just fielding phone calls. League sources characterized the talks regarding Cease as being anywhere from ‘trying to unload Cease’ to the Padres being ‘open to’ trading the right-hander.”
San Diego rescued Cease from the woebegone Chicago White Sox during Spring Training last season, dealing away four of the organization’s top prospects (Steven Wilson, Drew Thorpe, Jairo Iriarte, and Samuel Zavala) to acquire the 28-year-old hurler.
Cease finished fourth in the National League Cy Young voting in 2024 after going 14-11 with a 3.47 ERA and 224 strikeouts for the Friars.
The six-year big-league veteran anchored San Diego’s staff. However, Acee noted that he “could bring the Padres needed help in left field or designated hitter and/or prospects they could turn around in a separate trade.”
Acee also reported that the Padres are pursuing Japanese pitching star Roki Sasaki, who was just posted to Major League Baseball this week, “and are confident in their ability to add another mid-level starter.”
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