This isn’t the first time Dylan Cease has found himself amidst trade rumors.
“There were plenty of rumors last year,” Cease said at Padres FanFest on Saturday at Petco Park. “It’s part of the game, and I don’t take it negatively.”
Last year’s rumors resulted in a trade from the White Sox to the Padres just before their mid-March flight to Seoul, South Korea. Where this year’s rumors will lead is still uncertain.
The Padres are in competition for wild-card spots with teams like the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets, both of which have been linked to Cease in trade rumors. However, nearly every team could use a pitcher with four consecutive 200-strikeout seasons and two top-four Cy Young finishes.
The 29-year-old right-hander agreed to a $13.75 million salary for 2025, up from his $8 million last year. But Cease will be a free agent after the season, and with the Padres’ payroll expected to reach around $196 million, they may need to trade him to address a major need in left field, while also balancing the rotation.
Right-hander Michael King’s $7.75 million deal may make Cease’s potential trade more likely as the team looks to free up funds for other roster needs.
Trade rumors have also surrounded three-time batting champion Luis Arraez ($14 million), Robert Suarez ($10 million), and even King, although moving both King and Cease together is unlikely.
“I’d be surprised, but anything can happen,” King said after his recent deal. “I never expected to be traded here last offseason. Anything’s possible.”
The Padres’ payroll is expected to rank near the top 10 in the league, based on their current commitments and projected arbitration raises. Their only offseason moves so far have been re-signing catcher Elías Díaz, acquiring reliever Ron Marinaccio, and reaching deals with arbitration-eligible players.
King’s new contract adds some financial flexibility, including a $3 million signing bonus and a $3.75 million buyout for 2026 if he and the team don’t agree on a mutual $15 million option. The Padres may need to make a trade to stay within their budget.
As of now, Cease hasn’t had any discussions about his future with Padres President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller, nor has King been offered an extension. The only things they hear are the trade rumors and playful jabs from teammates.
“It’s part of the business,” King said. “It’s fun, though. Dylan and I always joke about it. You’ll hear the rumors, but you’ve got to make fun of it.”
Cease added, “It’s a good opportunity for some playful jabs.”
Roster Updates: Pitchers and catchers report in mid-February, but manager Mike Shildt has already revealed a few key roster decisions: Xander Bogaerts will return to shortstop, shifting Jake Cronenworth to second base, and left-hander Adrián Morejón will remain in the bullpen.
Morejón, who has dealt with injuries since signing in 2016, spent the past season in the bullpen, posting a solid 2.83 ERA in 63⅔ innings. Shildt is optimistic that Morejón will continue to excel in this role.
“Adrián has really found a niche in the bullpen,” Shildt said. “We expect him to build on last year and become even more dominant.”
Bogaerts, who was initially moved to second base last spring to accommodate Ha-Seong Kim at shortstop, will return to short after Kim’s shoulder injury and departure. While the Padres have other shortstop options, they’ve decided to give Bogaerts the starting job, knowing he was eager to play in that position again.
“We had a great conversation about it,” Shildt said. “He’s excited to return to shortstop and has been training for it.”
Still Available: Roki Sasaki, who chose the Dodgers over the Padres and Blue Jays, has access to many resources in Los Angeles, but few pitchers have made the leap from Japan to MLB like Yu Darvish. The 38-year-old veteran plans to offer support to Sasaki if needed.
“We’ll see how the season goes for Roki,” Darvish said. “If he faces adversity, I’m happy to help him.”
Darvish spoke with Sasaki during his recruitment but noted that after Sasaki picked the Dodgers, the young pitcher personally reached out to him.
“Ultimately, it’s up to the player,” Darvish said. “We gave it our best shot, but it wasn’t enough.”
Health Updates: Both Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado are feeling good after offseasons impacted by injuries in 2024.
Machado, recovering from elbow surgery, had to serve as the designated hitter until he could throw consistently. Tatis, who missed over two months with a quad injury, had an excellent postseason and is now feeling great.
“I haven’t felt this good since 2020,” Tatis said. “My body is in great shape, and my swing is in a great spot. I’m excited for this season.”
Machado echoed Tatis’ sentiments: “My elbow feels great, and my swing and throwing have improved since last year. I’m in a good place physically.”
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