Padres Considering Dylan Cease Trade to Manage Payroll

The San Diego Padres are seeking to "lower financial commitments while adding talent," as reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune. Last year's payroll was around $169 million, and while the team is open to increasing this figure, they aim to keep it below the current projection of $210 million.


To achieve this balance, the Padres may need to trade a valuable player to receive a mix of cheaper talent in return, similar to their strategy last year when they traded Juan Soto. This time, the spotlight is on Dylan Cease.


Cease, a 28-year-old right-hander, is set to become a free agent after next season. In his first year with the Padres in 2024, he posted a solid 14-11 record with a 3.47 ERA (118 ERA+), a 1.07 WHIP, and 224 strikeouts over 189 1/3 innings. His performance makes him a valuable asset, and trading him could help the Padres acquire promising, cost-effective players while managing their payroll more effectively.