While a lot of attention regarding the New York Mets' offseason has been dominated by signing outfielder Juan Soto, president of baseball operations David Stearns has been rebuilding his starting rotation. Could these efforts include landing San Diego Padres ace Dylan Cease in a blockbuster trade?
New York reached the NLCS in 2024 off the strength of a terrific second-half performance from its starting staff. Luis Severino, Jose Quintana and Sean Manaea were key contributors who became free agents at season's end. Severino signed with the Athletics, but a reunion with Manaea still seems like a possibility. Stearns has also signed Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes to multi-year deals.
The Mets have been linked to various hurlers in hypothetical trades, including Seattle Mariners ace Luis Castillo. What might it take for Stearns to pry Cease from San Diego's grip? FanSided's Josue De Jesus proposed the following swap:
- Mets receive: right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease
- Padres receive: infielder Luisangel Acuña, outfielder Ryan Clifford and right-handed pitcher Blade Tidwell
"In a package like the one proposed, the Padres would be getting a value similar to what they paid when they acquired Cease last offseason, while the Mets would get a long-awaited ace for their rotation," De Jesus wrote. "Ultimately, the Mets must carefully weigh these factors against their current window of contention and their long-term vision for the organization."
Cease is estimated to earn $13 million in 2025, which is his final year before reaching free agency. Spotrac projects his current market value for a long-term deal at five years and $108 million. The Mets' side of this hypothetical trade sees them surrendering three prospects ranked in the organization's top 15, according to MLB.com.
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