Despite a rough season in 2025, a new report about the opinions of various scouts on Dylan Cease explains why he should be a top target for the New York Mets in MLB free agency.
Following a disastrous finish to the season, there are several areas the Mets need to improve for 2026. However, their collapse in September underscored the need for a legitimate frontline pitcher to lead their rotation over the next few seasons.
In free agency, there are some good veteran starters available, but not a no-doubt ace that has to be targeted. It means the evaluation process of stars like Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, and Japanese import Tatsuya Imai will be very important for the Mets to help them decide which pitcher should pursue the hardest.
On Friday, a new report from The Athletic offered up insight on why Cease could be the right choice for New York. The outlet spoke to 10 MLB scouts and asked them to rank the pitchers available in free agency this offseason. Their top choice was Houston Astros veteran Valdez. However, Cease finished just a few points behind him despite a down season in 2025.
Why the Mets should prioritize Dylan Cease in MLB free agency
At his best, the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox veteran can be a top 10 pitcher in the game. However, he has proven during his seven-year career to be very inconsistent. An American League scout even joked to The Athletic that Cease was a “beast” in “even years.” Which is oddly true because some of his worst seasons have come in odd-numbered seasons (2023 and 2025).
Yet, despite his struggles in two of the last three seasons, scouts around the game are still big believers in his stuff, his top pitches, and his ability to be an elite strikeout pitcher against both righties and lefties. Cease was fifth in the MLB for strikeouts last season. Just one behind NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes, who pitched in nearly 20 more innings.
Another interesting nugget of intel that came out of the report is the fact that Cease is an above-average athlete, and during his time in the Chicago Cubs organization, it became clear that the infielder turned pitcher was a student of the game obsessed with getting better. It is an intangible that new Mets pitching coach Justin Willard can mine to help Cease get back to being the Cy Young contender he was a few years ago.
Dylan Cease stats: 8-12 record, 4.55 ERA, 1.327 WHIP, 215 SO, 71 BB, 168.0 IP
The Mets struggled badly with injuries to their starters in 2025. However, Cease is different than most pitchers today in that he has posted five straight seasons of at least 32 starts. Showing he is one of the more durable arms in the game. Also, he is two years younger than the top pitcher on this year’s market, Valdez. So the Mets could get him right in the middle of his prime.
In the end, New York wants to move some contracts before it makes any major signings. However, The Athletic’s report shows why Cease should probably be the pitcher they target in free agency.
