Three potential landing spots for pitcher Dylan Cease

San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease has been inconsistent at best in recent years.

He had been stellar in 2022 and 2024, earning Cy Young and down-ballot MVP votes in both years. However, he struggled in 2023 and 2025 to the point where he could have been considered a below-average pitcher (97 and 94 ERA+, respectively — league average is 100). Cease did not do himself any favors in his free-agent walk year, posting a 4.55 ERA and a 1.327 WHIP over 168 innings, striking out 215 batters with 71 walks in 2025.

There is one trait that has remained consistent despite his up-and-down performances. Cease, who will turn 30 on Dec. 28, is a modern workhorse, making at least 32 starts while throwing over 165 innings in each of the last five years. That durability has plenty of value, especially given his potential to be a top-of-the-rotation arm.

As one of the best pitchers in the 2025-26 free agent class, Cease is set to receive plenty of attention in free agency. Let's look at three potential landing spots for him.

Three potential landing spots for Dylan Cease in free agency

1. Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox rotation is solid, especially during the grind of the regular season. Garrett Crochet is the unquestioned ace of the staff, while Brayan Bello is a solid middle-of-the-rotation arm. The other options for the rotation are a slew of question marks, longer on potential than track record.

The lack of a true second starter was evident in the postseason. Crochet dominated in Game 1 of the wild-card round against the New York Yankees, but the Red Sox were eliminated, in part, because they did not have that second starter to follow. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said that adding another starting pitcher is a prerogative, as he believes their window of contention is now. Cease could be that second starter Boston needs for a deeper playoff run.

2. San Francisco Giants

President of baseball operations Buster Posey has a pair of difficult tasks in front of him — finding a way to unseat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West while building a team that can have sustained success. Posey has made progress — he signed third baseman Matt Chapman to a long-term extension, traded for designated hitter Rafael Devers and signed shortstop Willy Adames to a long-term contract in free agency.

At first glance, adding another top starter would not be necessary. Logan Webb and Robbie Ray are a formidable duo atop the rotation and provide a strong foundation for a playoff-caliber pitching staff. However, Ray is slated to become a free agent after the 2026 season. Cease would lengthen the rotation this year while providing a solid security blanket should Ray depart in free agency.

3. New York Mets

The Mets' playoff aspirations were doomed, in large part, by their rotation as injuries and underperformance took their toll. A total of 17 different pitchers made at least one start in 2025. Of those, only three made more than 20 starts on the season. Two of those pitchers — Kodai Senga and Clay Holmes — faltered down the stretch, with Senga being sent to the minors due to his struggles. Mets starters, as a whole, posted a 5.31 ERA in the second half, 27th in the majors, as they fell out of playoff contention.

While the Mets believe in their pitching prospects, president of baseball operations David Stearns indicated that the Mets will actively be searching for a frontline starter. Although Cease has been inconsistent over the past four years, he has displayed the ability to be the type of starter New York needs. Adding Cease could go a long way toward the Mets' championship hopes.