The San Diego Padres are actively considering their options this offseason, which may involve trading some of their star players.In a recent article by Zachary D. Rymer from Bleacher Report, it is suggested that the Padres could trade their ace, Dylan Cease, to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for outfielders Heston Kjerstad and Enrique Bradfield Jr., who is ranked as the Orioles’ No. 5 prospect. Rymer noted that MLB Network’s Jon Morosi indicated the Orioles had interest in Cease even before they lost Corbin Burnes to the Diamondbacks, making their need for a top-tier pitcher in their rotation more urgent now that Burnes is officially gone.
The Orioles would be employing a similar strategy as they did with Corbin Burnes if they trade for Dylan Cease, who is set to become a free agent after the 2025 season. This move could be beneficial, as Cease has shown impressive performance, ranking in the 92nd percentile for whiff rate this year, contrasting with Burnes, whose effectiveness as a strikeout pitcher is declining.
The San Diego Padres are in need of starting pitching, which makes the idea of trading Dylan Cease seem unlikely, though not entirely off the table, as they aim to reduce payroll. Their projected payroll for 2025 is approximately $40 million higher than it was at the end of the previous season
.Additionally, the Padres may be holding off on a decision regarding Cease while they wait for Japanese free agent Roki Sasaki to make his choice. Sasaki is their top target and is not expected to finalize a deal with any team until at least January 15
MLB Network insider Jon Morosi previously connected Dylan Cease to the Baltimore Orioles in early December. This past season, Cease made 33 starts, achieving a record of 14-11 with a 3.47 ERA, 1.067 WHIP, 224 strikeouts, and a 4.2 WAR. He finished fourth in the National League Cy Young voting, following a second-place finish in the American League Cy Young race two years ago while with the White Sox.As Cease approaches his 29th birthday later this month, he holds a career record of 48-35 with a 3.52 ERA, 1.207 WHIP, 891 strikeouts, and a total of 16.0 WAR since 2021. With Cease set to become a free agent after the 2025 season, the Padres do not expect to re-sign him. However, general manager A.J. Preller is known for his unpredictable decisions regarding player trades and acquisitions.
