San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease greets teammates against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 11. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Padres Make Surprising Starting Pitcher Available in Trade Talks: Report

Originally posted on San Diego Padres on SI
By J.P. Hoornstra | Last updated Jul 23, 2025 1:05 PM ET

Might the San Diego Padres trade baseball's most reliable starting pitcher before the July 31 deadline?

Unlikely though it might be, the Padres have made Dylan Cease available in trade talks with other teams, according to a report Wednesday from Buster Olney of ESPN on Twitter/X.

A surprise name has emerged in the starting pitcher market: Dylan Cease, who will be eligible for free agency at year's end. Perception of other teams is that the Padres are intent on making a push for the playoffs, and would use Cease to help fill other roster needs. Mets, AL…
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 23, 2025

Cease, 29, is eligible to become a free agent at the end of the season. According to Olney, the Padres are considering exploring Cease's trade value to weigh his value against those of their other roster needs — likely left field and catcher.

In 20 starts this season, Cease is 3-9 with a 4.64 ERA. Those numbers, however meager, might not have a large impact on the market for the pitcher who's made more starts over the last five seasons than anyone in baseball.

Padres have talked to the Orioles about Charlie Morton. So maybe the plan is to add a starter like Morton if Cease is dealt for other assets.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 23, 2025

From 2021-25, Cease leads MLB with 150 starts and 1,030 strikeouts. If he does leave San Diego, the Padres will need to replace Cease's innings in the rotation.

To that end, Olney reported Wednesday that the Padres have talked to the Baltimore Orioles about right-hander Charlie Morton — himself a durable starting pitcher who has recently turned around his season for the struggling Orioles.

Padres have talked to the Orioles about Charlie Morton. So maybe the plan is to add a starter like Morton if Cease is dealt for other assets.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 23, 2025

More to come on this story.

This article first appeared on San Diego Padres on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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