The San Diego Padres' acquisition of right-hander Dylan Cease this week from the Chicago White Sox completely changed the way their rotation shapes out. San Diego now adds a perennial ace-level starter to a team that had multiple questions surrounding its starting rotation.
Cease finished second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2022, adding to his reputation as a potential ace. Last season, Cease regressed heavily, posting an ERA of 4.58 in 33 starts.
The right-hander believes he wasn't pitching to his full potential last season. He opened up about his struggles with the San Diego Union-Tribune, saying he was only at about 30 percent of his overall potential.
“Last year wasn’t good. I think I pitched to about 30 percent of my potential, really.”
Merely leaving the rebuilding White Sox organization and going to a team with postseason aspirations should help Cease, sheerly by virtue of the added motivation that comes with a change of scenery.
The White Sox are projected for 67 wins, the third-fewest in Major League Baseball. The Padres are projected to go 82-80, on the cusp of National League wild card contention.
The Padres' pitching staff has been one of the league's best in recent years. Their starting rotation lacked experience beyond veterans Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove, but now add a 28-year-old with 123 major league starts to his credit.
Cease's upside is high, and now he's looking to bounce back from a down year in his first season in San Diego.
“I just wasn’t executing well. I didn’t get into a good rhythm. … I feel like I’m in a good spot right now. I feel like I’m locked in. I made some good adjustments. I mean, I’ve got a good feel right now. I’ve got a good command of everything. So honestly, just keep building on what I’ve been doing.”
Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller typically makes one blind-siding transaction each offseason. Cease fits that to a tee.
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