Yankees-Padres trade idea would bring Dylan Cease to Bronx

The New York Yankees' starting rotation has been without Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil all season. Gil is slated to return, but the team could use reinforcements as they look to turn things around.

The Yankees have also lost Clarke Schmidt for the season. They have not been a good team as of late, and may be interested in making a big move in hopes of getting back on track. Dylan Cease is a rental arm the Yankees could target.

According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Padres would want a big league left fielder and/or catcher in return for a player like Cease. The Yankees could match up well in that regard, according to FanSided's Adam Weinrib.

"If it's catching help the Padres want, the Yankees could dangle a package featuring JC Escarra or Rafael Flores, who is almost inarguably MLB-ready (though Jon Heyman begged them not to trade him)," wrote Weinrib. "If they'd prefer a left fielder, Trent Grisham could be available for the right price - and San Diego knows him well. Would both Escarra and Grisham packaged together net them Cease? What about either one of them, paired with a minor-league righty like Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz or Bryce Cunningham?"

Cease is not having his best year, and is a few months away from hitting the open market. He has a 4.79 ERA in 22 starts and has notched 153 strikeouts. Perhaps a change of scenery could get him back on track.

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Cease finished fourth in the National League Cy Young Award race last year. He was the American League Cy Young Award runner-up in 2022. If he can be a solid arm in the middle of the Yankees' rotation, they could start to chip away at the Toronto Blue Jays' division lead. 

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