The Baltimore Orioles need an ace, and the San Diego Padres are looking to trade their No. 1 starter Dylan Cease – seemingly a perfect match.
In 156 starts over six seasons with the Chicago White Sox and Padres, Cease has compiled a 57-46 record with a 3.75 ERA, 114 ERA+, and 3.69 FIP. He’s struck out 1,016 batters in 847 1/3 innings, averaging 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
Just one season after acquiring Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers, the Orioles lost the 2021 National League Cy Young winner and four-time All-Star to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who signed him to a six-year, $210 million contract.
The Orioles’ current rotation consists of Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Charlie Morton, Dean Kremer, and Tomoyuki Sugano. To become legitimate World Series contenders, Baltimore needs to strengthen their pitching staff.
Orioles wouldn’t trade All-Star, prospects to Padres for Dylan Cease
While the Orioles reportedly checked in with the Padres about Cease in December, MASN Sports MLB insider Roch Kubatko has revealed why those talks stalled.
“I’ve heard that the Padres checked on Samuel Basallo, Jordan Westburg and Coby Mayo, but those players weren’t on the table. I doubt that it comes as a surprise. Nothing has changed,” Kubatko noted.
The Orioles’ reluctance to part with All-Star infielder Westburg and top prospects Basallo and Mayo stems partly from Cease’s contract status. The right-hander will become a free agent after the 2025 season, creating a situation similar to Burnes, who left after one year.
However, if the Orioles want to advance deeper into the postseason, they may need to sacrifice top prospects to acquire the frontline starter they desperately need. They’ve already missed out on Garrett Crochet, who the White Sox traded to division rival Boston Red Sox. With the free agent market depleted of quality starters, Cease might ultimately be their best option.
