The San Diego Padres are actively seeking to trade right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease as the MLB trade deadline approaches this Thursday at 6 p.m. ET. Recent reports suggest that the Boston Red Sox may be among the teams interested in acquiring Cease, who has been a topic of discussion among general managers in the league.
Major League Baseball analyst Jim Bowden noted that the market for starting pitchers is heating up, with several names like Sandy Alcantara and Joe Ryan also in high demand. Both the New York Yankees and the New York Mets have reportedly engaged in talks with the Padres regarding Cease, who is considered to be widely available.
The Padres are particularly targeting an immediate impact MLB player, likely a left fielder or catcher, in exchange for Cease, rather than prospects. This insistence reflects their desire to strengthen their current roster.
Cease, who is 29 years old, has had a challenging season with a 3-10 record and a 4.79 ERA across 22 starts. However, he demonstrated remarkable durability and effectiveness in his previous seasons, consistently achieving over 200 strikeouts each year and leading the majors in strikeouts per nine innings this season with an impressive 11.6.
His contract, which pays him $13.75 million this year, will make him a free agent after the World Series, further incentivizing the Padres to capitalize on his trade value.
The Red Sox are notably in need of starting pitching, especially following the season-ending injury to Hunter Dobbins and the recent placement of Tanner Houck on the injured list, making Cease a potentially attractive option for Boston.
Overall, the unfolding trade discussions could lead to exciting changes for both the Padres and the teams targeting Cease, with the potential for a roster upgrade that may bolster competitiveness in the league.