The Mets are among the teams that have spoken with the Padres regarding Dylan Cease, writes Jon Heyman of The New York Post. Jon Morosi of the MLB Network reported this afternoon that the Cubs were also involved on the star righty.
Cease is one of the biggest names to watch over the next six weeks. San Diego has fielded interest in virtually all of their highly-priced players who could test free agency next offseason (e.g. Cease, Luis Arraez, Michael King, Robert Suarez). Every contender could be involved on Cease, who is coming off a fourth-place finish in NL Cy Young balloting.
If he does move, it’d be the second straight winter in which Cease is dealt late in the offseason. The Padres acquired him from the White Sox midway through Spring Training last year. His first season with the Friars was excellent. He worked to a 3.47 ERA while striking out 224 batters over 189 1/3 innings. Cease has not missed a start since 2019. He has topped 200 strikeouts in four straight seasons and has two top five Cy Young finishes in the past three years.
San Diego has had a quiet winter as they navigate payroll restrictions and squabbling amongst their ownership group. The Padres only have three pitchers who’d be locked into their season-opening rotation: Cease, King and Yu Darvish. Trading either Cease or King would subtract from the rotation’s ceiling, but it stands to reason they’d demand at least one cheaper MLB-ready starting pitcher as part of the return. San Diego also needs to find a new left fielder after letting Jurickson Profar walk in free agency.
Last year’s Corbin Burnes trade serves as a template for what the Friars could demand for Cease. The Brewers netted two MLB-ready players who’d been borderline top 100 prospects (Joey Ortiz and DL Hall), plus the 34th overall pick in the 2024 draft, from the Orioles. Cease is slated for a $13.75MM salary in his final year of arbitration. While the Padres do not expect to work out a long-term deal with the Boras Corporation client, they’re trying to balance their long-term outlook against the goal of returning to the postseason this year.
Heyman suggests that the Padres could subsequently look to sign Jack Flaherty or Nick Pivetta if they deal Cease or King. That’d require an unexpected willingness to stretch the budget. Even if they look to short-term deals, Flaherty and Pivetta should each beat $13.75MM annually. Pivetta would also require draft pick forfeiture after declining a qualifying offer. That series of events would raise payroll and still leave San Diego with a hole in left field unless they address that via the hypothetical Cease trade.
The Mets have been reluctant to make long-term pitching investments under president of baseball operations David Stearns. They’ve addressed the rotation with a series of shorter-term moves. They brought back Sean Manaea for three years and (a partially deferred) $75MM, added reliever conversion pickup Clay Holmes on a three-year deal, and taken a two-year flier on Frankie Montas. That trio joins Kodai Senga and David Peterson in their projected starting five. Paul Blackburn, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning are depth options. It’s not a bad group but lacks a true ace, especially if Senga’s workload is limited after he barely pitched in 2024.
I’m showing interest in this 26 year-old hottie at work, but it doesn’t mean her BF is gonna trade her for my ‘84 Ford F150.
How many miles does it have on it?
You’re asking, how many miles are on the truck or the hottie?
Look at the junk in the trunk…and beneath their hoods – a pristine ‘84 might top an old 26.
Which acquisition might age badly over the next two seasons? Which will be costlier to offload?
If one of them is rep’d by a Boras type….run.
I almost spit my coffee at the screen when I saw pivetta turned down a QO
If her boyfriend was smart he’d have her play you for the keys and come back to him and leave you high and dry
Gotta realize, despite salary constraints a Cease trade is not a gimme unless it makes sense for bot sides.
We’re talking subtracting an ace and leaving the Padres rotation shorthanded.
Unless there is a sleeper in the Pads system(wishing for the Peavy) than losing Cease for salary relief signifies punting in 2025.
Punting isn’t a good for the morale of the team or a weary fanbase as well.
Unless the Mets have pieces ready to step in right away, it’s got to be a no go.
Could get a lesser pitcher back in return. Or sign one of the old lefties. Or trade Arraez for a lesser pitcher.
Trade deadline comes. They are looking good. Trade for a playoff arm.
Losing Arraez (3 time batting champ) greatly affects the Padres offense.
Cease has to net an MLB ready arm as part of the package.
@towinagain No he doesn’t. They could just sign Quintana. Or make another trade.
Arraez doesn’t and won’t greatly affect any offense. Cool seeing a high average hitter but you win games by out scoring the other team. He doesn’t score or drive in enough runs to greatly affect. Doesn’t play great defense at a premium position. Doesn’t greatly run. 1 tool player. Actually half tool player because he only hits but doesn’t greatly walk. Lets go 2/3 tool player.
Woah woah woah
Pads need to keep the Double play boys together!
No one in baseball grounded into more than Machado! No team had anyone close to grounding into as many DP’s as Machado, Crone, and Arraez together!
teamrankings.com/mlb/player-stat/grounded-into-dou…
Perfect than he shouldn’t be dealt. He’s more valuable to the Padres than what he would net in a trade.
They said they aren’t signing FAs and if they traded Arraez to use his salary to sign Quintana that’s essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul.
That simply salary re-allocation and doesn’t accomplish anything.
Arraez is worth more tonthe Padres than he would net in a trade.
You trade Cease not Arraez if you have to trade one.
Either way, this mess is brought to you by the Seidler Brothers.
Any batter with a .370 OBP greatly effects his teams offense.
Pretty sure she’d exercise her no trade clause.
How much of that ’84 Ford F150 sticker price was Deferred? Or does he have to pay the whole $1000 of deferred payments?
A canyon red frame off restoration 1984 stepside f150 sold at Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson auction for $70k this year.
Me too!
No mention of what the Padres might get back? This site is all about speculation, take a stab at it and throw a hypothetical dart at the rumor board. The only definite thing in any Padres related article is the financial situation. Come on, AF…less cut and paste and more opinion.
It’s a rumor site. What more do you want?
They said what they want, an idea of what the Mets might send for cease
Here’s the article I’d like to see-
“Who Doesn’t Show Interest in Cease”
@Gwynning Any of the smart small markets. They would be trading Cease as well at 1 year left so wouldn’t be giving up prospects for him unless AJ fell in love with someone crazy.
Yuuup Dreamer…
Rox, Pale Hose, Miami. Would make a very succinct article!
Aloha Gwynning! Well, there are SD fans hoping that Jed will be desperate enough to give a package of Assad, Shaw or Caissie plus more. Nothing against Cease, I know he flashes ace like stuff but my Cubs already have given away a lot of talent for rentals in Tucker and Pressly. I think your Padres should keep him and compete for the division. Maybe the Mets will give Preller his asking price. I want my Cubs to go into ST now with what they have, maybe add a BP arm and bat like Canha in via the FA market. I wish your Padres well! Mahalo!
Too many options. AJ is a wild man. Could get 2 top 100 guys. Or maybe he wants to try to pick apart their system and go 4 top 30 guys. Maybe Pete is coming back and they move a mlb piece.
The Mets have an extra outfielder. They also could look to trade Mauricio. I think the Mets are in a similar situation the Cubs are in where they have plenty of young talent and don’t want them all learning on the job. I am sure Baty is available. Not sure about the pitching maybe Peterson?
Gilbert, Maurcio, Acuna and Baty are all on the block
The Padres don’t need Gilbert he’s not ready yet. They need guys who are ready to play immediately. The others make sense.
Gilbert is 24 and has had enough AAA experience. He played in the AFL this year. He’s pretty close to ready as you can get.
Not to mention that San Diego’s outfield depth is extremely thin. They could really use him.
Maurcio is still recovering from an ACL tear. He won’t be ready until May at least.
Gilbert didn’t perform at AAA he needs more time there. I haven’t heard that date of May for Mauricio.
The Mets have a big league outfielder to trade at least 1. I would really have to look at the rosters to figure out who makes the most sense. 1 outfielder 1 starter and perhaps another player I think is what makes sense.
Gilbert is the type of prospect that the Mets will trade because he’s not going to be good enough to be a starting corner outfielder on a team willing to spend what they do. IMO
He gives me some yusniel diaz bust vibes too. Yusniel Diaz could “chip in everywhere” but didn’t have one standout tool and didn’t really produce in the minors.
The Mets could also pay 80% of Marte contract’s and deal him to SD. The Met outfield depth chart is getting very crowded after the Winker signing. I’m very positive the Mets want to give Nimmo more DH days due to his plantar fasciitis. They will go defensive heavy at lot with Taylor in LF and Siri in CF. Marte has no fit in the roster and they have been trying to trade him the entire winter.
If SD is looking to shed payroll, but also still be in competitive window — Marte + Butto could certainly help. Add one more prospect in like Gilbert or Tidwell and that should be good enough. Nobody is going to trade a top 100 prospect for one year of control left. The return will be high floor 45/50 prospects close to MLB sprinkled in with controllable pre-arb non-star players.
How about Peterson, Baty and Marte with the Mets paying all of Martes salary. Peterson gives the Padres a lefty starter which they need and gives them the upside of maybe getting a guy that could perform like Cease. Marte would have a role on the Padres he doesn’t have one on the Mets. And Baty could play somewhere the Padres need lefty bats and the Mets wouldn’t miss him at all.
It makes zero sense for the Mets to trade Peterson for Cease. Peterson just put up a 137 ERA+ and 3.67 FIP and is controlled through 2027. They would be trading for Cease to bolster their rotation. Why would they trade a key member of their rotation to get it?
Man- top 100 prospects are traded for rentals all the time. Just last year there were multiple deals where top 100 guys were traded for rentals.
Reports are the cubs have offered Cassie who is a top 50 prospect and more.
Peterson is controlled through 2026 not 2027. You are the Mets fan not me get your facts straight.
Cease is better than Peterson. Figure it out champ.
Yes, I’ve looked this up recently as well. I can confirm that as well. Peterson has two years of control before free agency. BITA is correct. I can see the Mets including Peterson, but you can’t give up a lot more no matter how good cease is when you’re giving up two years of Peterson for one year of cease and then players on top of that. Certainly have to give more than Peterson, but the Mets cant give up two big prospects on top of him. That would be too much. So just depends how much additionally, the Padres would want. I’m not even sure what the Padres think about Peterson.
Peterson, Baty and Marte with all Martes salary paid. The Mets don’t need Baty or Marte at all. The Mets would keep all their prospects. That’s what I have suggested and that’s what makes sense.
Yes, as a Mets fan, I would absolutely do that trade.
I think Peterson is the key for the Padres. He’s King 2.0 if everything goes right. The Mets get a reliable ace in Cease the Padres get a potential ace and help in the outfield. Even if the Mets had to give up a MeGill, Butto or Blackburn to go with those 3 I think that’s still fair.
I don’t see the padres trading for Peterson. I believe they will want big group of young controlled players.
I couldn’t give up Peterson and Butto. That would be too much for the Mets from the major-league roster, in my opinion. Megill I don’t care about. He is what he is. Blackburn? Yeah they can have him. I don’t think they want him
The Padres need big league ready players not prospects. And they are still trying to win that’s the key here.
Look at the Soto deal. They didn’t get a bunch of prospects.
Blackburn could be used as a depth starter and perhaps take a rotation spot for the Padres. Just a throw in really.
Padres I think would be fine with a player
Like butto and ready or near ready prospects. Preller isn’t afraid to push prospects to the big leagues. Especially if it was an outfielder where they can have some patience given how good they are in CF and RF.
Doesn’t mean they would like Peterson or the trades you are saying crazy. Just they would get more players back without Peterson.
Now if they can get Peterson ++ a couple of good prospects then maybe. It’s just harder to see the Mets doing that.
Peterson, Marte, Blackburn and Baty.
The Padres aren’t trading for prospects. Maybe that’s what you want them to do but thats not the plan.
They aren’t trading him for that either…see I can do that as well.
We will see. I bet he gets dealt.
From other sites it said Acuna, Jett Williams and Sproat were being discussed.
The Mets have the prospect depth to deal from, it just depends on how many of their top prospects they’re willing to part with.
I’m sure Sproat is the first name the Padres are asking for.
Sproat, Christian Scott and some of the young infielders (Acuna, Mauricio, Baty) might get it done.
You’re not getting Sproat for Cease
I’d say they keep Sprout. But even though he has a high ceiling he has some flaws and reliever risk. If Stearns doesn’t believe in him as a starter. Mets have enough to keep him and still get Cease.
Massive overpay for one season of Cease. No chance they’d even consider Sproat, much less Sproat, Scott, and another guy.
And if I’m the Mets I’m not moving him for what may be just one year of DC.
@padam Same. Should be on a trade and sign deal, if teams, players, and agents still do that. Iirc the Mets had 72 or 96 hours to come to terms with Santana when they traded for him.
I’m also not trading Sproat for one year. Not loving it even on a trade and sign, but Sproat’s upside isn’t what Cease is doing currently.
Totally agree, Jack. Sproat might project as a mid rotation starter, but his potential could be higher than that. He’s the closest to the majors and highest upside pitcher the Mets have in the system. I think he’s untouchable in this deal. However, I’m willing to discuss any other minor leaguer and it just depends how many would be involved. I have a feeling the Padres would want Butto and a couple prospects. It just depends on the quality of prospects, whether it’s worth it or not. I would hate giving up Butto though, but I’m wondering if I’m overrating him.
@jack – Cease is a Boras client. Extremely slim chance that he would sign an extension just 1 year away from FA.
Would you rather have Cease or Alonso in 2025? If I’m a Mets fan, I’d rather have Cease. And King. Forget the Polar Bear. Trade for both Cease and King and have one of the best rotations in all of MLB.
I have doubts that the Padres would move both Cease *and* King. They’re still trying to make the playoffs in 2025, but be competitive working within payroll limitations.
The trade ideas mentioned in MLBTR’s Cease to the Cubs post seem to line up with what the Padres would ideally like to do: trade Cease for a lower-caliber cost-controlled SP and MLB-ready OF prospect.
I can understand why the Padres would ask for Sproat, but the Mets need some young pitchers to come up and be part of rotation. I would certainly be willing to give up quality for Cease, but not Sproat.
Sproat doesn’t make sense. The Padres need multiple big league ready guys not 1 guy who isn’t ready yet.
BITA:
Well Sproat will be ready at some point this season but from a Mets standpoint, I wouldn’t want to give him up anyway. I’d be willing to discuss any other prospect though. Just depends on how much the Padres are asking for. I have a feeling they may want Butto included, who has pitched well in the bullpen and has starter potential. He’s a major league ready piece. Then I expect the Padres to want a couple of other prospect pieces too, close to MLB ready, but for a one year pitcher it becomes a tricky negotiation. Both sides have to come away happy.
Butto + Gilbert makes a lot sense for SD.
Sproat is good but the Mets don’t have a bunch of young pitching prospects. He’s also worth about what Cease is worth on his own. A 3 for 1 with lesser talent is what makes sense for the Padres. Peterson maybe. I don’t know anything about Butto. Baty is certainly available. The trick is the Padres want big league ready players not prospects who need to start the year in the minors.
What would the Padres do with a 3B? They need someone at either 1st, LF, or SS. Maybe 2nd. Machado’s getting $300MM to handle 3rd for a long time.
Mauricio can play all over the place. Baty can play outfield i think. He’s not a great fit but he’s available.
BITA:
Yes, but keep in mind most teams trading for cease are not giving away a lot of players off their active roster. So there has to be some prospects involved.
I think the Padres want players who are ready to play right now not prospects.
How about Peterson, Baty and Marte with the Mets paying all of Martes salary. I like that for both teams. The Mets wouldn’t miss any of those guys except perhaps Peterson but they get Cease instead. Padres need a lefty starter and Peterson could maybe be the next King.
“The Mets wouldn’t miss any of those guys except perhaps Peterson but they get Cease instead. Padres need a lefty starter and Peterson could maybe be the next King.”
. . .then why would the Mets trade him? The Mets are looking to add starting pitching. So they. . .trade away their (roughly) #3 starter with two years of control for one year of Cease? How does this make sense?
The Mets aren’t trading Peterson or Sproat, how about since the majority of Asian players want to play on the West Coast we trade Senga, Marte, Gilbert (for 2026 and beyond not for 2025),Megill, Baty plus $10 mil for Cease and King
Because Cease is better than Peterson. Duh. They trade away their number 3 starter and get back and ace.
“Sproat doesn’t make sense. The Padres need multiple big league ready guys not 1 guy who isn’t ready yet.”
You’re correct in that Sproat makes no sense, but you’re wrong in who it makes no sense for. It makes zero sense for the Mets to trade away their only top pitching prospect for one year of a guy who might turn in an average year like his 2023.
If the Mets offered Sproat (which they won’t), the Padres would likely take it.
Sproat doesn’t make sense for the Padres homer. They want big league ready guys and multiple players.
You keep saying that but it’s just not true. The Padres are looking to offload salary and then maybe pick up a cheaper player in free agency.
Pads need outfielders, catching and pitching in that order. Team could use a decent, two-year catcher to bridge to Pads top catching prospect Salas. Their other top prospect is a SS. Outfield depth is thin and so is the starting pitching. If the team deals one, or both, of King/Cease and doesn’t get back semi-comparable innings/lowish ERA (which is going to be nearly impossible to do), team will need to outscore everyone. Darvish is another year older and Musgrove is out for 2025. Preller pulled a few rabbits out of the hat (Profar, Merrill, Higgy, Solano, Waldron) in 2024 but needs Cronenworth and Bogaerts to actually live up to the long-term contracts they got in 2025.
If the padres trade either of cease or king their top priority is pitching.
I could see butto in a deal along with a couple of other prospects. Perhaps the padres take back marte with in the deal where the Mets eat some of his salary or take a guy like Wandy Peralta back in the deal. Keep in mind Butto would be a secondary piece.
Yeah, I think I agree with you on this. It depends on the prospects, of course.
David Peterson. That’s the guy. You trade 1 year of Cease for 2 years of Peterson plus some outfield help. Then you use the money saved to fill other holes.
Peterson isn’t being talked about by anyone. You are hung up on a player that isn’t getting traded.
Peterson is the guy that makes sense for the Padres. That’s why I keep talking about him.
If the Mets got Cease then who is their starting 5? There is no room for Peterson fella. The Mets would need to trade from their rotation
Senga-they gonna trade him?
Holmes-just signed him
Manaea-just signed him
Montas-just signed him
They have to trade someone from their top 5 and Peterson is the only guy who makes sense to deal. And he’s exactly the kind of player the Padres would want.
Mets- I agree I don’t see Peterson in a cease deal.
If the Padres trade Cease and don’t get back a pitcher that has upside then how on earth are they going to compete in 2025?
Peterson is the guy that makes sense.
Are they really looking to compete in 2025? They are looking to get their ownership figured out and shed money. Sorry to break the news to you.
I think they will likely do a 6 man rotation to ease the load on senga
They are definitely looking to compete in 2025. If they weren’t they would trade Arraez and King too.
I think that’s a really good possibility. They are definitely in talks with teams on all three.
If they do a 6 man rotation they can go with Canning or Megill
Definitely?
No…….
One trade leads to another transaction.
IF the trades cease they will then open up some money. They may also trade others like Suarez. Which would open up even more money. They just cleared a little money with the king deal.
Preller usually does deals with others in kind. Trading cease will be apart of a bigger plan.
Yeah trade Cease and free up money to sign players to fill other needs. Duh.
Heyman reports the Padres might prefer the Mets’ prospects in a potential deal.
“While [Chicago’s] prospect list is ranked higher, with highly regarded third base prospect Matt Shaw understandably off-limits in rental deals, the Padres may prefer the Mets’ list, including Brandon Sproat, Jett Williams and Luisangel Acuña,” writes Heyman.
I see Williams being part of a package. Sproat and Acuna are pieces of the team and controllable for some time. Right now Williams doesn’t have a path at the majors if Acuna and Gilbert (and potentially Mauricio/Baty) are in the equation.
There is not a scout in the industry that thinks acuna or gilbert is better than jett.
Williams has a path in CF and at 2B.
Agree with birdmansns. Nobody doesn’t have Jett higher than both Acuna and Gilbert, though Gilbert is closer. Does anyone have Acuna as even a top 100 any longer?
Mets fans are mesmerized by Acuna’s first 19 PA in MLB, to the point where it’s ridiculous. They should be asking, ‘why the he!! couldn’t you hit at Binghamton or Syracuse??’
Yes, Jack, agreed. Acuna showed a very quick bat last season. I was actually very surprised by how quick his bat was and the power he possesses. However, he has knocked himself out of top prospect status. I don’t know if he was bored at AAA or what, but that’s still not a great sign.I would think Gilbert is either similarly valued or higher valued. I suspect higher valued.And Williams is definitely valued higher than both of them. Yes he has multiple paths to playing and I’ve heard he’s the future centerfielder but like you said he could also be the future second baseman.
Williams will be the Mets starting center fielder by next year.
If he can’t plays short I don’t really see him being targets by the padres. I guess they could move Merril back to short. I don’t really see Merrill moving positions.
Williams floor on left also seems low. Also Williams bat seems to be questionable
Could see Preller trading Cease to either the Mets or Cubbies and dealing King to the other. Dunno why the Mets wouldn’t just ditch resigning Alonso and trade three prospects and two players for two of the best young pitchers in the NL currently. Sure, there is the long-term resigning/resigning for 2026 factor but who has more money than Cohen and is more willing to spend it except the Dodgers? Pads could use a mix of plug and play starters along with half-year/year of the minors guys on the precipice of being called up.
Just take all of them
He’d be lucky to escape the drama of the widow vs. the estate lawsuits.
David Peterson might be part of a package for Cease.
He makes a lot of sense. The Padres need a lefty starter and he has the kind of upside and team can dream on. Could be King 2.0 and that’s what the Padres are looking for.
“The Padres need a lefty starter and he has the kind of upside and team can dream on. ”
You know who also needs a lefty starter with the kind of upside a team can dream on? The Mets! Why would they trade him if they’re trying to beef up the rotation?
Literally why? They’d be trading for Cease to bolter their rotation. Why would they then trade away a solid piece of their rotation? I swear half the people who are proposing Mets trades are not familiar with the players on the team.
rct: And the other half, including me, have followed the team probably since before you were born and know as much about its history and players as you or anyone else on here.
I swear half the people on here don’t know how to respect the opinions of others.
CEASE IS BETTER THAN PETERSON!!!!
GOOD LORD DUDE
Not a chance. The Mets aren’t looking to trade that doesn’t really improve the team for more salary.
Getting Cease for Peterson and some guys the Mets don’t need at all doesn’t make them better?
What are you smoking? I doubt it’s better than mine…..but seriously…….
Peterson was just as good as Cease last year. Why would the Mets pay more money in the highest tax bracket for a marginal improvement. What are you smoking?
In what world would anyone take Peterson over Cease????
Tax bracket?????
Good gosh man. You are ridiculous. Your team is talking about getting one of the best pitchers in baseball and you are talking about tax brackets. Get a clue fella.
You would take Peterson over Cease. You are the only one talking about it. Sorry but the Mets aren’t looking to spend 400 million payroll and get taxed another 150 million. Your ridiculous if you don’t think the Mets aren’t looking at their luxury tax bill.
No i wouldn’t take Peterson over Cease. Cease is an ace. I am not a Padres or Mets fan. The Mets don’t care about tax crackers bozo.
Yes they do. Name calling just shows how little you know.
I don’t know if I would call Cease an ace. At least a very good number two. But yeah, David Peterson is definitely not near the same level as cease. He had a very solid year last year, but some of his underlying numbers show that he didn’t really pitch as well as his ERA indicated. Still, I think he’s on the upswing, but clearly not on the level of cease.
Cease would be the ace of the Mets. I know that.
No he wouldn’t. Senga has more upside then him and he pitched equally to Manea last year.
Senga has upside. Cease takes the ball every 5th day and performs. Cease would be the Mets ace. And Manaea just isn’t that good.
Cease is very inconsistent from year to year. He could be an ace or be the number 5 starter.
When has Cease been a number 5 starter?
We can’t say how good Manaea is. He was excellent in the second half last season and it coincided with with him changing his delivery. So I can’t accept that he’s just not that good until we see what he does this year. Cease would be the number one pitcher on the Mets, I agree. However Senga did have a better ERA two years ago than Cease did this past season. So if Senga is healthy, the Mets have two top pitchers to go along with Manaea.
To be fair, cease was awful two years ago.
You are looking at this in a very black and white way. Yes, Cease is better than Peterson, but the Mets are using a 6 man rotation for most of the year. You need 8-10 pitchers for your rotation to get through a season. Peterson is a major part of the Mets depth. They aren’t going to sacrifice that depth for only one year of Cease — no matter how good he is. Smart teams just don’t do that.
This is why Butto and even Megill make more sense for SD than Peterson. Butto can pitch in the rotation and pitch out of the bullpen. He’s flexible and is still pre-arb. Megill has some of the best stuff metrics.
A big 3 is exactly what a true contender needs. Sure Senga might be better than Cease in 2025. Peterson also might be. But the safest bet is Cease.
I disagree. I don’t think you need a ‘big 3’
You need at least 8-10 SP’s for the regular season because of injuries.
For the postseason you need 7 pitchers who you can trust to get outs. It doesn’t matter if they are SP’s or RP’s.
In recent years, teams like the Dodgers and Rangers proved you can win without dominant starting pitching. Starting pitchers don’t go deep into games anymore. How you utilize the rest of your staff is far more important.
You still need 3 really good starters. The Dodgers and Rangers both had that for sure.
More pitching makes the Mers better right?
Right????
The Dodgers rolled out Walker Buehler (who was literally one of the worst SP’s this season coming off a second TJ)
– Jack Flaherty who has a career 3.63 ERA/3,91 FIP)
Certainly fine, but not really TOR caliber.
– Yamamoto who is good, but was only limited to 5IP due to him returning from rotator cuff injury.
I wouldn’t call that a ‘big 3’ — The Dodgers won the World Series because of their high-powered offense and bullpen management. Same with Texas 2 years ago.
I would say the Mets do have 3 good SP’s in Manaea, Senga, and Peterson, but Stearns is much more interested in building a staff that is deep rather than a staff that is a top heavy. This is because he understands that your staff is always in a constant state of flux throughout the regular season. And this is why the Mets FO would be totally against trading Peterson in a deal for Cease. If Cease gets injured your depth is now getting depleted. It’s an unnecessary risk to take with a player you only have control for one season.
You do need 3 good starters in my eyes in the playoffs even if they don’t go real deep.
Dodgers got starts from flaherty, Yamamoto and Walker. Yamamoto start vs the padres saves their season.
At the same time you do need 8-10
Starters in the regular season. Making the playoffs in the NL isn’t a sure thing for anyone except the dodgers. The NL had 8-10 teams that could make the playoffs. Mets are far from guaranteed a spot.
I would call that a big 3. And they had more the other guys were hurt. They didn’t go into the season as that being their big 3.
Walker pitched well enough to get a deal this offseason. Those 3 guys who all had top of the rotation ability. They also didn’t want to count on that again and that’s why they signed players like snell.
Walker got a 1 year prove it deal (basically the QO). He did not pitch well enough to maximize his value lol.
2023
The Mets could come up with the type of 2 or 3 for 1 package that the Padres could use. And I do think the Mets could use a rotation upgrade still.
For Cease the Mets can easily match what MIL got for Burnes: “two borderline top 100 prospects” in Nolan McLean and Jesus Baez, ranked 92 and 99 by Baseball America, and throw in their first round draft pick or equivalent.
Seems surprisingly painless (which is probably why someone will top it), especially if it’s a trade and sign deal.
Jack, do you prefer cease or king?
Won’t be trading their 1st round pick.
I’d guess the Pads have absolutely no interest in Baez and want a guy that isn’t volatile and far away. Wouldn’t make much sense for them to do.
Gilbert or Williams & controllable pitching seems like what he’s going to need.
Padres aren’t doing that trade.
As a Mets fan, I’m thinking Megill, Acuna, and Gilbert would be more than fair and perhaps even an overpay… but I’d still do something like that for either Cease or King. That would take the rotation from solid to plus and really improve their chances this season, even though it might well bite them in the ass down the road. Acuna in particular looks like he could be a very solid long-term starter even if he doesn’t hit much. The glove and the wheels alone carry a lot of value.
Camikey,
If the Padres insisted on Butto over Megill, what would you say?
I prefer Butto but if that’s what it takes I would do it.
Camikey: It might take David Peterson over Megill.
Peterson is too much along with the other two guys. But if it was Peterson and Gilbert alone, I’d do it.
Gould the Pads get Gilbert, Butto, and Baty for Cease?
I think it would be more like Mauricio or Acuna, Butto and Tong.
Mets in theory matchup well, they could offer MeGill or Butto as cheap MLB SP with guys like Christian Scott or Blade Tidwell ready for next season and as the centerpiece with another top 15 prospect of the Padres choosing outside of Sproat, Williams, Benge, Mauricio, McLean, Tong & Acuna who the Mets will almost certainly not part with for a rental. The Mets could also pay down maybe $14-15M of the $18.5M owed to Starling Marte, Padres need someone to take at bats for a corner OF position and DH, they also lacked in the SB department last year. Padres receive a vet in Marte to fill a hole, a SP in MeGill or Butto to take Cease rotation spot along with 2 controllable prospects 1 of which is a SP ready to be in the rotation next season in either Tidwell or Scott.
Mets might even part with either Drew Gilbert or Ryan Clifford as the other top 15 prospect if the Padres were willing to include one of their LH relievers Matsui or Peralta.
The Padres do not want prospects
Peterson is a great fit for them. That’s a guy the Padres would want.
Besides him Marte makes sense if the salary can be worked out. Perhaps Taylor. I think the Padres are a better fit for Baty than the Mets are. And perhaps Mauricio or Acuna.
Lot of ways to make it work. But the deal needs a headliner and Peterson would be that guy.
You keep saying that but the Padres clearly like the Mets prospects better than the Cubs. Repeating it a hundred times doesn’t make it true.
I actually like the cubs prospects better. Both have more than enough to make a deal.
The Cubs are keeping their top prospects off limits. I think that’s the difference.
Cassie and Wicks
Peterson, Blackburn, Baty and Marte
I think i would take the Mets deal. Wicks might be a bum and Cassie while high upside is risky. The long term value from the Cubs is better but that’s not what’s important to the Padres they are trying to win now.
Or Cassie and brown and others..I’d take that over the Peterson and others. Blackburn has been bad, bath has don’t nothing. Marte is on his last leg.
So basically Peterson and very little future value. Padres aren’t going to do that. It also sounds like most Mets fans are saying the Mets wouldn’t do that.
Cassie Brown and others isn’t happening.
Who says the Padres have a future? Not me….
Looks brighter than the cardinals future. At least not so decent future.
Though you are one of those know it all guys.
So just tells us the 12 teams that make the playoffs. Who plays who and who wins every series. We might as well cancel the season and just listen to you.
I saw someone who posted Sprout, Megill, Mauricio, and Parada. That would likely get it done.
Most of the trade proposals here are worse than the ones you hear on WFAN. Same with the Garret Crochet trades a while back. It’s for one season of Cease.
What did the Orioles give up for one year of Corbin Burnes, who is/was a better pitcher than Cease? Two prospects on the edge of the top 100. Start there for your trade proposal for Cease. Mets are not going to empty the farm for him or trade away members of their rotation. If the Padres asking price is too high, they’ll just move on.
The #63 overall prospect, a top 100 prospect that graduated that year and put up a 3.26 ERA in his 2 months in the majors, and a supplemental 1st round draft pick.
We know the type of return Preller wants for Cease because we now have two examples. The Red Sox and the Mets at the Winter Meetings, Both of them involved a player in the Top 20 overall prospects, a couple of MLB players, and a good MLB ready prospect. Start there in any of your proposal ideas.
Cease is a ton of value to the padres so they aren’t trading him for anything that’s not an overpay.
Value is relative though. Guys on the last year of their contract typically don’t have a ton of value no matter how good they are. Although I do expect they will get a very good package for him if they trade him. I think your expectations might be just a little high.
He has more value to the Padres to trade. They are trying to shed payroll.
Reports have stated they are looking to shed payroll. That they might do so to sell and buy.
If they just needed to shed payroll cease and others could of been gone long ago
Heyman is trying to say that the Padres would trade Cease to lower payroll then sign a guy that will get twice as much money AAV on a long-term deal. What the heck is Heyman talking about?
I can see it but it would take moving more than just cease. If they traded cease and Suarez they would clear the payroll for Flaherty.
Prob not likely unless they also move Arraez which at this point I see as doubtful. Arraez likely isn’t going to bring back much. So they can just keep him.
That’s doesn’t mean I think flaherty is likely.
It will interesting to see what happens but we know the Red Sox, Twins, Cubs and Mets all have interest. So I think Cease will be dealt, just a matter of who offers the most.
Preller could trade Cease and/or King to the Cubbies and/or Mets but would obviously rather have either/both in the AL. Red Sox or Rangers anyone? If the prospects/starters work out better from the NL tho, AJ isn’t afraid to pull that particular trade trigger.
Red Sox said no to what Preller was asking for Cease back in December. I doubt the price has come down since then with all the big name pitchers off the board. Will Breslow part with Mayer, Abreu, Fitts and someone like Whitlock now that Gonzalez has been traded?
People say no and then they keep talking and come to a deal. Happens all the time including last year with Soto and the Yankees.
Twins, Red Sox, cubs and Mets have all shown interest in Cease. I would be surprised if they O’s weren’t in there somewhere as well.
Simm, I agree. I am hip deep in negotiations in a state legislature right now.
In the case of the trade of Soto, the Yankees caved in and included Thorpe along with the 4 major league players Preller had been asking for all throughout the negotiations.
The report was the Yankees would include Thorpe or king. They gave up both.
Exactly. The Yankees caved and included Thorpe.
I spent most of the last 18 hours in and out of a marathon legislative session and this is the 3rd article here in my day about the Padres trading Cease.
I guess Heyman couldn’t stand Morosi getting his moment in the spotlight so he starts talking out of his behind and ties himself in knots of illogical babble again.
Why in the world would the Padres trade a very inexpensive Cease only to turn around and give up a draft pick and commit $25 million or more to pitchers that are not as good as Cease?
Does anyone take Heyman seriously?
I think the poll here got it right. The Padres are not trading either Cease or King.
At dinner tonight we were trying to talk about anything except the session we had just come out of and I brought up the rumor from earlier about the Cubs and Padres. One of the other attorneys said don’t be daft, look at the type of trades both of these POBOs have made the last year or two. They were big splashy deals. Think bigger. So I did.
Padres send the Cubs Cease and Jason Adam. Cubs rotation and bullpen are set. Among the best in the NL.
Cubs send the Padres Suzuki + $9-10 million, Assad, Brown, Aliendo who is a catching prospect that is close to the majors but blocked by Ballesteros, and a lottery ticket of your choice. Melendez? Cepeda? Padres fill LF, backfill the rotation, get more depth at catcher, and a wish upon a star prospect. Padres save spend about the same in 2025.
The Padres had been asking for Mayer, Abreu, Fitts, and Gonzalez from the Red Sox for Cease alone so this is in line with that proposal but involves the Cubs getting both Cease and Adam.
This helps both teams. Cubs trade Suzuki who is a poor defensive outfielder but very unhappy as DH. Cubs get an Ace. They also get a top setup man with 2 years of team control who also has closing experience. Both Assad and Brown would not have made rotation with Cease there and the 2025-2026 offseason has a huge number of good starting pitchers hitting free agency.
Ok I have been up almost 20 hours. Will try to explain my reasoning better after some sleep.
I agree. What sense does it make if the Padres are trying to watch their payroll to trade Cease and then turn around and sign someone like Flaherty for a lot more money and he’s been a lot less consistent. That’s where that report goes completely off the rails and makes no sense.
To be fair the latest reports are the padres will trade some payroll for players. Then respend the money saved. Though that could be crap.
If they do that they could easily free up 8-46m with trading pending free agents.
Cease, king, Arraez and Suarez. They are all movable and some of them would bring back a haul. While freeing up 46 to spend back in the market. Perhaps they would then trade for Castillo instead of Flaherty. Perhaps they won’t trade all 4 of the above. Least like to be moved is king, Arraez, cease then Suarez
In that order in my eyes. Mainly bases on value and replaceability.
Mets aren’t trading David Peterson. Whether it’s Cease or King the Mets send McGill, Hamel and Marte (Mets pay a big part of his contract).
And they won’t get her Cease for that.
Their is ample evidence of what Preller wants in return for Cease from what he asked from the Red Sox and Cubs. Deals fronted by Top 20 prospects and that included multiple young pitchers.
Your proposal falls far short of that plateau.
Marte is a 36 year old injury prone OF who recorded a -0.1 WAR over the past two seasons.
He has no trade value and including him in a package would increase the cost to the Mets even if they paid all of the remaining $20 million he is owed.
Peterson, McNeil plus cash and a top 30 prospect for Arraez and Cease. Helps Mets if situation and DP gives SD a controllable quality effective lefty starter that costs less than 3 mill this season.
That’s a no, padres aren’t going to want anything to do with McNeil.
That’s ridiculous. McNeil is one of the better utility players in baseball. Everyone wants players they can move around the field and is decent.
The padres won’t want anything to do with him. Dude has massive neg trade value
No he doesn’t. He is a league average starting player with upside. He plays multiple positions. Most of the league would be interested in him for the right price.
No they wouldn’t. The Mets would have to pay down that contract to near nothing to get a bucket of balls.
I feel like this could be a deal where the Pads deal for their needs now rather than sign players. And it’s not the worst idea. Pads are built for now, but they have holes.
Would Marte (+cash), Peterson, and Megill for Cease work for everyone?
And just in case, I’m a NYY fan, so just an outside observation.
Because that‘s the only thing the Padres can do: signing former Dodgers
I think it’ll look something like Peterson and Butto or Megill and Williams. I wouldn’t be opposed to Scott as a high-risk secondary piece, either.
There’s no way the Mets will give up Peterson,Butto, and a top prospect. That’s a ton to give up for a guy on the last year of his contract no matter how good he is. cease and king are both very good, but not worth that kind of package with one year of control.
I see more of a butto, perhaps an Megill but less likely. I do think butto and prospects is the most likely.
There are several different prospects I could see the padres having interest in.
Though I think the cubs are a better fit and even perhaps the twins or Red Sox.
Will see I do think a deal will be made sooner than later.
Yeah, there seems to be a lot of smoke right now. I know a lot of these rumors tend to be nonsense but it seems like there is real traction to the Padres moving one of those two pitchers. We will see. They did it with Soto in the last year of his contract so it doesn’t seem far-fetched they would do it with one of these pitchers in the last year of their contracts.
If they trade Cease or King they have to sign Bauer to replace them.
Sproat, Butto and another young player or almost major league ready prospect for Cease