BREAKING: White Sox Finally Complete Dylan Cease Trade

After an offseason of trade rumors in fits and starts, it appears that the Chicago White Sox are finally going to capitalize on the hot market for their former ace starter Dylan Cease and are trading him to the San Diego Padres.

BREAKING: The San Diego Padres are finalizing a trade to acquire right-hander Dylan Cease from the Chicago White Sox, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 13, 2024

The reported return in the Dylan Cease trade.

RHP Drew Thorpe (Padres No. 5 Prospect)
OF Samuel Zavala (7)
RHP Jairo Iriarte (9)
RHP Steven Wilson

(Per @JonHeyman and @Feinsand) pic.twitter.com/qJHleXbt1Q

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) March 14, 2024

The Padres send a slew of top prospects to the South Side of Chicago in return, including their No. 5 prospect right-hander Drew Thorpe, their No. 7, outfielder Samuel Savala, and their No. 9, right-hander Jairo Iriarte, along with another righty, Steven Wilson. 

Now the Friars just have to hope they're getting the 2021-2022 version of Cease (3.00 ERA, 11.6K/9) rather than the 2023 version (4.58 ERA, 1.41 WHIP).

Cease joins a strong Padres rotation that's headed up by Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove, and also sports Michael King.  

The former Cy Young Award runner-up (2022), Cease was the biggest trade piece remaining on the starting pitcher market, which will now leave teams like the New York Yankees scrambling. The Bronx Bombers had re-engaged with the Pale Hose on Cease after they learned of an elbow injury to their ace Gerrit Cole. They'll now have to look elsewhere. 

Photo: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports