The Philadelphia Phillies already boast one of the best rotations in baseball, but it could be nearly unbeatable if they land the runner-up to the 2022 American League Cy Young award.
The Phillies rotation features:
- Zack Wheeler: two-time All-Star and two-time runner-up for NL Cy Young
- Aaron Nola: a former All-Star who has made 32 starts or more in six seasons
- Cristopher Sanchez: emerged as one of the top left-handed starters in the NL in 2024, making his first All-Star game
- Ranger Suarez: made his first All-Star team in 2024
- Jesus Luzardo: left-hander traded from the Miami Marlins who throws in the high-90s
And that doesn’t even include top prospect Andrew Painter, who is expected to make his MLB debut this summer after coming back from Tommy John surgery.
Even though the Phillies are rich in starting pitching, that doesn’t mean they aren’t looking to upgrade an already elite rotation.
MLB insider: Philadelphia Phillies linked to Cy Young contender Dylan Cease
According to SI MLB insider Pat Ragazzo, the Phillies are interested in adding San Diego Padres starter Dylan Cease, who will be a free agent after the 2025 season.
The Padres reportedly dangled Cease in trade talks in the offseason but pulled back and now view him as part of their rotation plans. But that could change if San Diego is out of playoff contention come trade deadline.
Ragazzo reports that even though Cease might be off the trade block, the Padres have sent scouts to numerous camps, including the Phillies’.
“The Mets’ NL East rival Phillies, who New York knocked off in the NLDS in four games last October, already acquired lefty Jesus Luzardo from the Miami Marlins earlier this winter. That said, Phillies head baseball executive Dave Dombrowski is always looking to improve his club and could dangle a number of top prospects in a deal for Cease that could help the Padres compete in the short-and-long term,” noted Ragazzo.
“The Phillies’ rotation features former Met Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez and Luzardo. They may have to send a starter back to the Padres in a deal, which would be more than worth it for the Phillies if they were to land an ace like Cease.”
The Phillies’ top three prospects include Painter, infielder Aidan Miller, and center fielder Justin Crawford, whom the team will not move for a rental, even if it is Cease. They could potentially build a trade package around prospects like Eduardo Tait, former first-round pick Mick Abel, and Dante Nori. If they were to part with a starter, it would most likely be Luzardo since he won’t be a free agent until after 2026.
As powerful as a rotation featuring Wheeler, Nola, Cease, and Sanchez would be, the lineup still needs to put up runs as the offense has faltered in the past two postseasons.
