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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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?
Camikey: It might take David Peterson over Megill.
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.