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The San Diego Padres went out brutally against the Chicago Cubs in the NL Wild Card series, and now, with the offseason here, they have things they need to address. One of those things is now with Yu Darvish out for the 2026 season, they need to try and retain Dylan Cease.
This might be hard for them, however, as Cease is set for a payday. According to the Athletic’s Tim Britton, Cease is projected to receive a six-year, $174 million contract.
“The back-of-the-baseball-card numbers for Cease were subpar in 2025: an ERA above 4.50 for the second time in three seasons and his fewest innings since 2021. Cease’s peripherals painted a rosier picture: His FIP was right in line with where it’s been since his first 162-game season in 2021, and his strikeout rate (33.3 percent) was a career best…Cease won’t get to that number (at least not accounting for inflation), but he’ll probably join a group of pitchers paid more for their stuff and peripherals than for their ERA — a cohort headlined by Zack Wheeler,” Britton wrote.
This past season, Cease posted a 4.50 ERA, 215 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.327 over 168 innings pitched. However, like Britton said, his advanced stats were much better, as he had an 11.5 K/9 and a FIP of 3.56.
Cease offers Cy Young potential, as he was in the race multiple times in the past. He also provides durability, as he’s never had an injury-prone season.
Hopefully, the Padres can pony up and find the money to keep Cease. Otherwise, there will be many suitors in line trying to take Cease’s talents to their franchise.
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