Padres 200-strikeout ace tabbed as team's "most intriguing" trade chip

While the San Diego Padres have been able to keep pace with the juggernaut Los Angeles Dodgers, they have received a disappointing performance from starting pitching Dylan Cease. 

The 29-year-old has a well-earned reputation as one of the most consistent pitchers in Major League Baseball, making at least 30 starts and striking out at least 200 batters in each of the last four seasons. Yet while Cease has remained healthy enough to make a team-leading 13 starts in 2025, his 4.72 ERA would be his highest since his rookie season, and he has just one win against five losses. 

Under the hood, however, there are plenty of signs of an impending turnaround. His walk and strikeout rates are right in line with his averages from his previous four seasons, his fastball is still averaging close to 97 miles per hour, and his slider is still inducing whiffs at over a 40% walk rate. The main culprit appears to be bad luck: His .333 BABIP is well over the league average and would be the highest mark of his career.

All signs point to an impending turnaround for Cease, but his future with the Padres is a far different story. Cease is a free agent after this season, and given how budget-conscious the Padres have become since the death of owner Peter Seidler in 2023, it is a major question as to whether the team will be willing to pay Cease’s expensive price tag, especially with fellow Cy Young Award contender Michael King likely to hit free agency after this season as well. 

It is rare for a team to trade one of their core pieces in a contention window, but with general manager A.J. Preller known for thinking out of the box, MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell believes that trading Cease may be the right long-term decision. 

“The Padres need Cease. Their rotation is thin, and both Michael King and Yu Darvish are currently out with injury,” Cassavell wrote. “But let’s say both are healthy by the Deadline. (The team is hopeful that will be the case.) Would the Padres really hit the offseason with both Cease and King set to become free agents? Or would they look to recoup some value for one -- perhaps adding a mid-rotation arm at a lower price in return?”

With strong performances from newcomer Nick Pivetta and unheralded arms like Steven Kolek, Randy Vásquez and Stephen Kolek, not to mention one of the league’s best bullpens, the Padres will have plenty of pitching depth once Darvish and King return. Upgrading an offense that ranks 21st in MLB in runs scored should be a much bigger priority, and dealing a marquee arm like Cease could be the way to do it. 

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