Oct 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease (84) leaves the field while playing the Los Angeles Dodgers during game one of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

MLB insider lists potential Mets trade package for Padres ace Dylan Cease

Originally posted on New York Mets on SI | By Troy Brock | Last updated Feb 14, 2025 11:00 AM ET

The New York Mets have done little to improve their starting rotation heading into 2025, but an MLB insider recently listed a package the team could offer the San Diego Padres for ace Dylan Cease.

As pitchers and catchers have now reported across all of baseball, the Mets still cling to the weakest starting rotation of the big three in the National League East. While the Philadelphia Phillies boast Zack Wheeler as one of their four aces, and the Atlanta Braves are not far behind with Spencer Strider set to return from injury early in the season, the Mets have... Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga?

Kodai Senga pic.twitter.com/GhfCQW8vEI
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) February 11, 2025

While Senga is expected to return to a full workload this year after missing most of 2024 due to injuries and pitching only 5.1 innings in the regular season, that is a tall ask for any hurler. The next best option is Manaea, who had the best season of his career in 2024 but could come crashing back to Earth this year after posting a lot of blue on his Baseball Savant page.

Can the Mets trade for Dylan Cease?

The Mets has been linked with the Padres for their ace Dylan Cease, who has been on the trade block this winter; Cease is entering the last year of his contract, and the Padres do not plan on extending him. The addition of Nick Pivetta earlier in the week certainly makes things more interesting: this could indicate San Diego is bolstering their rotation for 2025, but it could also be a contingency plan for the departures of Cease and Michael King.

A.J. Preller addressed (kind of) trade speculation around Dylan Cease
"To have a guy like Dylan who's one of the best pitchers in the league...that's a very big part of our club. The addition the past couple of days supplements what's a really good rotation" @SportingTrib pic.twitter.com/k3Nmf1vWmc
— Marty Caswell (@MartyCaswell) February 13, 2025