Not the news San Diego Padres fans were hoping for.
It has been a tough offseason for Padres supporters. With the Seidler family embroiled in a legal dispute over team ownership, A.J. Preller has been under pressure to cut spending. Instead of his usual aggressive moves, Preller was forced to remain inactive while other teams loaded up on top free agents. Almost every NL contender strengthened their roster.
There was a brief moment of optimism when the Padres seemed like the front-runners for Japanese star Roki Sasaki, but it turned out to be nothing more than wishful thinking. No one wanted to see the Los Angeles Dodgers add another young talent—except Dodgers fans, of course. Ultimately, the Dodgers got their way, leaving the Padres disappointed.
With the team’s future uncertain, the Padres now face a difficult decision regarding soon-to-be free agent Dylan Cease. The 29-year-old finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting last season, with a 3.47 ERA and 224 strikeouts, playing a key role in San Diego’s postseason push. However, now the Padres must confront a harsh reality.
While the Padres have resisted trade offers for Cease up to this point, recent news about Yu Darvish could force them into parting ways with him.
Yu Darvish’s injury puts a new spotlight on the Dylan Cease trade rumors
Yu Darvish is officially questionable for Opening Day due to “elbow inflammation,” as confirmed by manager Mike Shildt.
At this stage, it’s not a major concern—yet. There’s hope that Darvish will be back at full strength to start the season.
However, when “elbow inflammation” is mentioned, it raises alarms. While I’m not here to diagnose injuries, Darvish is 38 years old and hasn’t pitched a full season since 2022. It’s understandable to be cautious. Without Darvish, the Padres’ outlook changes significantly.
Let’s assume Darvish misses a significant amount of time. Does that affect the Padres’ strategy with Cease? Holding on to a top-tier ace makes sense if there’s a clear path to contention. But if San Diego is struggling from the start of the season, things look different. The Padres’ rotation depth is already a concern, and losing Darvish would make them even more vulnerable.
Cease and Michael King form one of the best one-two punches in the NL, but you still need a solid five-man rotation to contend in the NL West. If Darvish, one of the league’s top pitchers, ends up on the injured list, trading Cease and rebuilding could become a more appealing option. The Padres could command a strong return for Cease, even on an expiring contract, as the market for starting pitchers has never been more lucrative.
While it’s too early for definitive conclusions, the Padres are in a precarious position. With the dominant Dodgers, healthy Braves, revamped Mets with Juan Soto, the D-backs with Corbin Burnes, and the Phillies with Bryce Harper, San Diego needs nearly everything to go right to compete in 2025. If Darvish is sidelined early, holding on to Cease without the possibility of re-signing him may not make sense.
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