For the second consecutive season, right-hander Dylan Cease is essentially the most talked about participant in commerce rumors because the winter provides method to spring coaching.
The then-White Sox hurler was shipped to the Padres in mid-March of final yr, simply earlier than San Diego began their season in Seoul. It stays to be seen if the membership will flip round and deal him throughout the spring themselves one yr later, however AJ Cassavell of MLB.com notes that Stop made clear he isn’t bothered by the rumors swirling round him.
“You simply give attention to the duty at hand,” Stop mentioned. “It’s simply a part of the enterprise, actually.”
Stop went on to notice how a lot he loves San Diego and added that he would “positively” like to remain on the town. It actually stays potential that he’ll be a Padre in 2025 even when it’s troublesome to think about him returning to San Diego upon hitting free company this offseason. As Cassavell notes, nevertheless, a commerce may be essentially the most smart path for the Padres as they navigate a price range crunch with a number of vital holes of their projected 2025 lineup. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Stop convey again the kind of vital return that would tackle a number of wants for the Padres whereas additionally getting his $13.75M wage off the books to clear the way in which for additional additions.
With that being mentioned, getting the suitable deal for Stop could also be simpler mentioned than finished. The Cubs, Twins and Mets are among the many groups which have been linked to Stop in current days, however there have been some indications from each Minnesota and New York {that a} commerce could possibly be troublesome to work out.
Dan Hayes of The Athletic reported that the Padres are asking for “vital major-league worth” in Stop talks, including that rival executives imagine the membership is “emboldened” by the distinctive return they obtained from the Yankees in final winter’s Juan Soto deal. Hayes stories that the Twins are unwilling to half with prime prospects like Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez and Luke Keaschall and like to supply a package deal of huge leaguers who can assist tackle San Diego’s wants within the lineup and rotation.
That may sound just like the groups match up nicely at first look, however Hayes provides that the specifics of the return package deal determine to be a sticking level.
He means that the Padres are more likely to ask for one in every of Joe Ryan or Bailey Ober because the centerpiece of a deal, which is an ask that it’s onerous to think about Minnesota agreeing to on condition that each are established, high quality mid-rotation arms with three years of crew management remaining. Hayes notes that the Twins would favor to supply a package deal headlined by a younger starter like Zebby Matthews or Simeon Woods Richardson that might additionally embody Trevor Larnach and Willi Castro. Woods Richardson posted strong back-of-the-rotation manufacturing for the Twins in his rookie season final yr, with a 4.17 ERA in 28 begins, whereas Matthews struggled in 9 begins on the large league degree however stays the membership’s prime pitching prospect and is mostly believed to venture as a No. 4 starter within the majors long-term.
The worth discrepancy between gamers of Ryan and Ober’s caliber and the likes of Matthews and Woods Richardson is critical, and the edges would want to maneuver off their present stances to ensure that a deal to come back collectively.
It seems to be the same story with the Mets, as Will Sammon of The Athletic just lately described Stop coming to Queens as “unlikely” because of the anticipated acquisition price. Whether or not that’s as a result of an absence of willingness to half with a high-end package deal or if the membership merely lacks the items essential to get a deal finished is unclear, nevertheless, as Sammon goes on to say the membership’s failed pursuit of Garrett Crochet earlier this winter. The Mets have been amongst numerous groups concerned about Crochet, however he in the end was dealt to the Crimson Sox as a result of, as Sammon writes, Boston was in a position to provide “higher-quality prospects” than the Mets have been.
Sammon goes on to means that the Mets may swing a deal if the Padres’ asking value comes down via the spring or revisit talks on the commerce deadline, when Stop can be much less invaluable as a result of an buying membership now not with the ability to prolong him the qualifying provide.
In fact, a Stop commerce could also be far much less doubtless by the point the summer season rolls round. The Padres must fill their vacancies within the lineup a method or one other earlier than the season begins, and in the event that they handle to take action with out dealing Stop it’s troublesome to think about the membership then shifting gears and transport Stop out in the course of a pennant race except they’ve fallen out of competition.
