The Chicago Cubs have been busy on the trade market this offseason, moving Cody Bellinger while adding Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly. Could they make another splash by acquiring San Diego Padres right-hander Dylan Cease?
Cease, who spent five seasons with the White Sox before joining San Diego in 2024, rebounded from a rough 2023 campaign by posting a 14-11 record with a 3.47 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 224 strikeouts over 189 1/3 innings. If the Cubs were to pursue a trade, Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer suggested a potential deal:
Proposed Trade:
- Cubs receive: RHP Dylan Cease
- Padres receive: C Moises Ballesteros, OF Kevin Alcántara
Rymer noted that while the Cubs have a solid rotation led by Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, and Jameson Taillon, fans and ownership still feel the team hasn’t done enough to solidify itself as a true contender. Chicago’s rotation also lacked high-end strikeout ability in 2024, making Cease an intriguing target.
Ballesteros and Alcántara, ranked fourth and sixth among Cubs prospects per MLB.com, are promising young talents but don’t have clear paths to playing time in Chicago. With Cease set to earn $13.75 million in 2024 before hitting free agency, Spotrac projects his market value at five years, $109 million.
Adding Cease would further strengthen the Cubs’ push for contention, but it remains to be seen if Hoyer is willing to part with top prospects to get a deal done.
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