Cubs reportedly "team to watch" in Dylan Cease trade talks |
At this point in the MLB offseason, no one would be surprised to see the Cubs enter the 2025 campaign with the current team they have assembled. Whether or not they are a better team today than last season remains to be seen, but from all accounts, this roster is in a much better place.
Even as things stand right now, the Cubs continue to monitor not only the free agent market, with David Robertson and Alex Bregman being the two most commonly mentioned names, but also the trade route, as Jed Hoyer won't rule out another move. Everyone expects the Cubs to make more moves, but knowing his track record, it would be a minor league move, which is the most likely option. That may not be the case after all, as the Cubs and Padres are not only talking, but a trade between them could be on the table. After being mentioned in the Michael King conversations early in the week, the Cubs and Padres are again linked on the trade front. According to insider Jon Morosi, the Cubs are viewed as the team to watch with Dylan Cease. "One team to watch is the Chicago Cubs." Talk about a massive move that could alter the works of the NL Central. Should the Cubs find a way to get this done, they would, without question, be the favorites in the NL Central. Hearing Cease linked to the Cubs shouldn't be a surprise, as the Cubs were linked to him earlier in the season before those talks died off. Considering these two teams have a rich trade history, Yu Darvish was sent to San Diego in 2021 in exchange for Zach Davies and a slew of prospects. Owen Caissie was the key piece to that deal, as he has emerged as one of the Cubs best overall prospects. Should these talks intensify more than they already have, you can expect a similar return for San Diego, as Cease won't come cheap. When you look at every trade this team has made in their history, specific trades can be viewed as the ones that got away. Considering what the Cubs got from Jose Quintana as part of that deal in 2017, letting Cease go to the Southside could be viewed as the one that got away. Having a chance to get him back is not only a massive opportunity for the Cubs but an opportunity they can't let get away. Adding Cease would not only give the Cubs another front-end starter who could be slated to be the No. 2 or No. 3 starter, but you're getting him for 13 million dollars, which is very reasonable, all things considering. Cease has had an up-and-down career most of his career but is coming off a strong season with the Padres, where he posted a 14-11 mark with a 3.47 ERA. The 14 wins tied his career mark set in 2022, while the 189 1/3 innings was also a career high. Cease added 224 strikeouts and finished with 220+ strikeouts for the third time in his career, as he has Ace-caliber stuff. Armed with a fastball that averages 97 MPH, Cease can rush it up at 100, which he was known for during his time with the Cubs. To go with that heater comes one of the best, if not the best, sliders in the game while also backing that with a curveball change-up combination. That gives him four pitches to play with, as he can use any of those pitches at any point in the count. Adding Cease would give the Cubs the lethal arm they want, but it won't come cheap. When you look at some of the more recent deals, the Corbin Burnes trade comes to mind, as many expect a similar haul for the Padres. Milwaukee dealt Burnes to Baltimore last season and landed Joey Ortiz, DL Hall, and a second-round draft pick in 2024. While the Cubs may be forced to give up a bit more, the Padres are one of those teams looking to rebuild their farm system, so you know they will ask a lot. Although no trade is imminent, a proposed trade is being discussed. While that may not mean much to most fans, when names are discussed in a potential trade, the sides have gone over their options. As expected, the Padres are looking for pitching in return and a top-50-level player who could contribute this season. The deal being discussed involves two of the Cubs' three young pitchers, Javier Assad, Ben Brown, and Jordan Wicks, paired with a top-level prospect in Caissie and Kevin Alcantara. The kicker is the Caissie and Alcantara part of the deal, as the Padres want a power-hitting outfielder in return. There is no question that both of these guys provide power, but losing Caissie would be a gut punch when you look at the run he has been on the past two years. However, much like the Cubs in Cease, Caissie could be the one who got away for the Padres. Given the chance to get him back, they will do whatever it takes. While it does seem unlikely that anything will happen going forward, the Cubs and the Padres are something to watch, as both teams are eager to make something happen.
- @jonmorosi on Dylan Cease's trade market. #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/kDPUImqJSy
