San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller is shaking up the team with a major structural overhaul and has placed several key players, including Luis Arraez, Dylan Cease, and potentially Michael King, on the trade market. One team showing interest is the New York Mets, who have strengthened their roster this offseason with Juan Soto and the return of Pete Alonso. However, their pitching staff could use some improvement, leading them to target Dylan Cease to anchor their rotation alongside Kodai Senga. Cease posted a solid 3.47 ERA last season, following a career-low 2.20 ERA in 2022.
Despite Cease’s potential, the Padres are asking for a steep price. According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, they are requesting top Mets prospects like Brandon Sproat (No. 1), Jett Williams (No. 2), and Luisangel Acuña (No. 12). This demand is causing hesitation, especially when considering a previous trade scenario where the Mets walked away from talks with the White Sox, who wanted both Sproat and Williams for Garrett Crochet. The key difference here is that Crochet had two years left on his contract, while Dylan Cease has just one.
Cease’s performance is also a point of concern, as he followed up his standout 2022 season with a less impressive 4.58 ERA in 2023. While Cease remains a talented pitcher, the Mets may not be willing to meet the Padres’ high asking price for him. If the Padres don’t adjust their demands, it’s unlikely Cease will be joining the Mets’ rotation next season.