Report: Dylan Cease, Padres Agree to $13.75M Contract amid MLB Trade Rumors

The San Diego Padres and starting pitcher Dylan Cease avoided arbitration Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $13.75 million contract for 2025, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

This marked Cease's final arbitration-eligible year, as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2025 season.

Despite the settlement, there is no guarantee that Cease will be wearing a Padres uniform when the 2025 campaign begins.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported last month that Cease was among the starting pitchers "potentially available" in a trade, and it was also reported by MLB Network's Jon Morosi that the Boston Red Sox were among the teams interested in acquiring Cease.

After spending his first five MLB seasons with the Chicago White Sox, Cease was traded to San Diego last offseason for a package of prospects.

Cease, 29, enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career after the trade, going 14-11 with a 3.47 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 224 strikeouts over 189.1 innings, while also throwing his first career no-hitter.

Although Cease was denied his first career All-Star selection, he finished fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting. He finished second in American League Cy Young Award voting just two years earlier when he went 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA and 227 strikeouts.

As good as Cease was during the 2024 regular season, he struggled mightily during the playoffs, going 0-1 with a 14.40 ERA in two starts.

Even so, Cease is positioned to be a key part of San Diego's rotation in 2025 along with Michael King and Yu Darvish if he isn't traded.

Although the Padres have reached the playoffs in three of the past five seasons and made it all the way to the National League Championship Series in 2022, it is difficult to say what their intentions are for next season.

The Padres traded superstar outfielder Juan Soto and allowed ace starting pitcher Blake Snell to leave in free agency last offseason, and so far this offseason they lost catcher Kyle Higashioka in free agency, while reliever Tanner Scott and outfielder Jurickson Profar remain free agents.

San Diego has done little to add to the roster aside from executing some minor league contracts, so it remains to be seen what the plan is.

Of course, the Padres have a strong top three in their rotation and a lineup headlined by Fernando Tatís Jr., Jackson, Merrill, Manny Machado, Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts and Luis Arráez, so they have a chance to contend even if they stand pat.

However, if they don't believe they have a chance to re-sign Cease before he hits free agency next offseason, it may be wise to get something in return for him now while he is healthy and holds significant value.