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.
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.
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.
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