The San Diego Padres are facing some tough decisions this offseason, and Dylan Cease might be the biggest one. The right-hander’s heading into free agency as one of the top starters available.
With the signing period opening this week, the rumor mill’s already spinning. Bleacher Report’s Erik Beaston has Cease landing somewhere that makes a lot of sense when you think about it.
Back to Chicago?
Beaston’s prediction has Cease signing with the Cubs, and the logic’s pretty solid:
“It is such as strong fit, at a position of need for the Cubs, that it almost makes too much sense for Chicago to go sign him as soon as they can.”
The familiarity factor’s real here. Cease spent several seasons across town with the White Sox before the Padres traded for him. He knows the city, understands the weather patterns, and has experience pitching in the division.
That said, the Cubs will need to be willing to pay up. Cease won’t come cheap, especially with teams desperate for front-line starting pitching.
What You’re Getting
Let’s be honest about Cease’s 2024 season – it wasn’t pretty on paper. His 4.55 ERA across 32 starts tells one story, and giving up a career-high 21 home runs tells another.
But here’s what that doesn’t capture: the guy can still miss bats at an elite level.
Cease racked up 215 strikeouts this past season. That’s his fifth straight year reaching that mark. When you’ve got that kind of swing-and-miss stuff, you’re always going to have value.
The Cubs are betting that Wrigley Field can help keep some of those home run balls in the park. The venue can be pitcher-friendly depending on wind conditions, and Chicago’s cooler early-season weather might work in Cease’s favor.
From where I’m sitting, it’s not a bad gamble for a Cubs team that needs rotation help. They’re getting a proven strikeout pitcher who’s still in his prime at 29 years old.
The question now is whether Chicago’s willing to make the financial commitment it’ll take to bring him back to the Windy City.
