Could a Dylan Cease trade be imminent for the San Diego Padres? That’s certainly the conclusion that Padres fans reached when it was announced on March 17 that Michael King would be San Diego’s Opening Day starter on March 27 against the Atlanta Braves.
Dylan Cease’s Future in Question as Padres’ No. 2
Cease is entering his final year under contract before hitting free agency next offseason. The Padres traded for him nearly a year ago, acquiring him from the Chicago White Sox on March 13, 2024. He quickly became their most reliable starter, finishing fourth in the NL Cy Young race.
The Padres don’t have to trade Dylan Cease. However, the speculation is justified, considering they’ve been slashing payroll recently under their new ownership. It’s unclear if they would be willing to meet Cease’s price in free agency and run the risk of losing him without getting anything in return.
Interestingly enough, Jon Heyman of the New York Post stirred the pot a little on March 16, quote-tweeting Cease’s stat line in a spring training game against the Angels, and hinting that he may be on the move.
Trade value: Rising https://t.co/FrUkc5RrP4
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 17, 2025
Still, the Padres view themselves as contenders entering this season after taking the eventual champion Los Angeles Dodgers to a deciding game in the NLDS last postseason. Keeping Cease in the rotation would clearly make them better in 2025, whether as their No. 1 or No. 2 starter.
Fan Reactions to Cease Trade Speculation
It seems as if Padres’ fans don’t want to let their No. 2 starter get moved. Cease moving on from San Diego is still up in the air, but fans are catching on.
One fan responded to a video that shows the Padres celebrating a win with some In-N-Out Burger on the team’s plane but noted that it may be a bittersweet feeling for Cease.
Very cool but imagine being Dylan Cease right now. Trade talks heating up again and not being a part of this.
— Allen Seawok (@captainseawok) March 16, 2025
Meanwhile, some fans seemed convinced that King’s ace status spells doom for Cease: “Yup Cease is a goner,” said one user on X.
“Over Cease eh,” pondered another.
Some took it as a sign of optimism for San Diego as a whole, though: “Good feeling this the year my Padres win the World Series,” said another fan.
Good feeling this the year my Padres win the World Series
— Marlon M. Farid (@MarleyyBoyy) March 17, 2025
Another fan stood firm on wanting to keep Cease and make another playoff run with a stacked rotation.
Cease’s success throughout his career has proven that he can be one of the best No. 2 pitchers in the game.
STOP TALKING ABOUT THE @Yankees TRADING FOR DYLAN CEASE #Yankees adn @Padres FANS! ITS NEVER HAPPENING! The #Padres are keeping him! https://t.co/UlHitmgjHR
— The King Source: All Things Sports with ADAM KING (@TheKingSource) March 10, 2025
Michael King’s Case for Ace Status in San Diego
Even with Cease coming off a strong year — matching his career-high mark of 14 wins, posting a 3.47 ERA in 33 starts (his second-best ERA), and throwing a no-hitter — King had an impressive season of his own after being acquired last offseason as the centerpiece of the Padres’ side of the deal that sent Juan Soto to the New York Yankees.
He transitioned to a full-time starting role for the first time and thrived. He started 30 games in 2024 after starting just 19 games in his first five seasons with the Yankees.
He posted a 13-9 record with a 2.95 ERA, which ranked fourth among NL starters — behind Chris Sale, Zack Wheeler, and Shota Imanaga — and finished seventh in Cy Young voting. King pitched 173.2 innings last season, shattering his previous high of 104.2 in 2023.
With those numbers, it’s easy to see why Padres manager Mike Shildt picked King for Opening Day. But with reports surfacing that suggest almost a third of the league has checked in on Cease’s availability ahead of the start of the season, it’s not surprising that fans are reading between the lines.