Surprise Name—2X Cy Young Candidate Emerges on Pitching Trade Market

Just when we thought the starting pitching market was set at the trade deadline, with the likes of Sandy Alcantara, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Mitch Keller and Seth Lugo among the top names, we now have a top new starter on the trade block.

A surprise name has emerged in the starting pitcher market: Dylan Cease, who will be eligible for free agency at year's end. Perception of other teams is that the Padres are intent on making a push for the playoffs, and would use Cease to help fill other roster needs. Mets, AL…
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 23, 2025

According to insider Buster Olney of ESPN, the San Diego Padres have discussed Dylan Cease with other teams. They apparently want major league help for other parts of their roster in return.

Olney lists several teams that have talked with the Friars about Cease:

Chicago Cubs
New York Mets
"AL East Teams"

Jon Heyman reports that the 'AL East Teams' include the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. All of those teams are looking for one more solid starter for their rotation.

The Padres are pushing for a playoff spot, currently holding down the 3rd and final Wild Card berth.

As for Cease, he becomes a free agent at season's end, so San Diego would like to recoup some assets that they can use now to get them over the hump. The 29-year-old is not having his best season, by surface numbers, with a 3-9 record, a 4.64 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. But his under-the-hood metrics suggest that better results could be expected going forward.

He has a 3.46 xERA (expected ERA), over a run below his game-level number, while he sits in the 94th percentile in Whiff % and in the 89th in Chase % and K%. He's at 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings, against just 3.2 BB/9.

Cease was the runner-up for the AL Cy Young in 2022 with the Chicago White Sox, and finished 4th in the balloting last season with the Padres.