Dylan Cease Trade Rumors Explode: Is the White Sox Ace the Next Blockbuster Deadline Deal?

SAN DIEGO — Right-hander Dylan Cease has rocketed to the center of the 2025 MLB trade deadline conversation, and industry sources confirm the San Diego Padres are “open for business” on the 28-year-old ace as July 31 approaches. Cease’s market already features at least six contenders According to multiple reports, the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Rays, Mets and Cubs have all checked in with general manager A.J. Preller about a potential blockbuster for Cease, who is eligible for free agency after the season and earning $13.75 million in his final arbitration year. Why the Padres might deal their Opening-Day starter • Roster holes: San Diego’s front office is prioritizing a left-field upgrade and bullpen depth; Boston’s Jarren Duran and Cleveland’s Steven Kwan are on the club’s wish list. • Contract reality: With payroll projected to exceed $250 million in 2026, the team risks losing Cease for nothing but a compensatory pick this winter. • Performance dip: Cease owns a 4.68 ERA but a far better 3.58 FIP and 11.4 K/9, numbers that keep his value high among analytically-inclined front offices. Replacement plan: eyes on Sandy Alcantara Sources also say San Diego has asked Miami about 2022 NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, envisioning a scenario in which Cease is traded for prospects who are flipped to the Marlins for Alcantara, whose contract runs at least through 2026. Potential fits and what they could offer • Yankees: RHP Drew Thorpe, OF Spencer Jones headline a package focused on near-MLB arms. • Red Sox: OF Jarren Duran plus RHP Wikelman Gonzalez could satisfy San Diego’s need for an everyday left fielder. • Mets: SS Luisangel Acuña and RHP Christian Scott give the Mets a path to an ace without surrendering slugger Brett Baty. • Blue Jays/Rays: Toronto could dangle C Alejandro Kirk; Tampa Bay has depth in middle-infield prospects. Recent audition in Miami Cease’s latest start came Wednesday opposite Alcantara; he struck out eight but allowed three runs over six innings in a 4-2 loss, reinforcing both his swing-and-miss arsenal and the Padres’ urgency to score more offense. What happens next • The asking price remains “premium starter plus controllable bat,” per a rival NL executive. • If no deal materializes, Cease will likely headline San Diego’s playoff rotation alongside Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish. • Should a trade occur, expect it to break 48-72 hours before the deadline so the Padres can immediately pivot to an Alcantara or Lucas Giolito acquisition. Bottom line Dylan Cease is the most coveted pitcher on the trade block, and the Padres’ willingness to listen has transformed the final week of July into a high-stakes bidding war. With multiple big-market clubs desperate for rotation help, San Diego is positioned to turn one season of Cease into a multi-year foundation piece—whether that is Alcantara or an elite position player prospect.