Mets Could Target Dylan Cease as Missing Championship Piece
The Mets are just one blockbuster move away from serious World Series contention after their transformation since Opening Day 2024.
What a difference a year makes. The team entered last season with little fanfare and modest expectations, but everything changed after their surprising run to the NLCS and landing superstar Juan Soto this winter. Now they’re heading into 2025 with championship aspirations – but there’s still something missing.
The rotation looks thin. Jose Quintana and Luis Severino departed this offseason, and while Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas have arrived, pitching remains a weakness. It’s gotten worse with Montas and Sean Manaea set to miss the start of the season. There’s also uncertainty around Kodai Senga’s recovery and how Holmes will transition from the Yankees’ bullpen to a starting role.
That’s why an early-season trade seems likely. CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa has identified the Mets as an “early possible landing spot” for Padres ace Dylan Cease – perhaps the best arm that might be available.
“Normally I would say San Diego will have to fall out of the race for a trade to become a real possibility, though I’m not sure that’s the case here,” Axisa noted. “Money is obviously tight — you only need to look at how Michael King’s and Nick Pivetta’s contracts are structured to see that — and Cease will make a healthy $13.75 million in 2025, his final year of team control. Is there an avenue for the Padres to trade Cease for multiple younger and cheaper players? Yes.”
The Padres’ ownership situation complicates things. With a contentious fight over control of the team, they might look to shed long-term financial commitments. Cease is heading toward free agency where he’s projected to command a five-year, $108 million deal, according to Spotrac.
He’s earned that payday. Cease has made at least 32 starts in each of the past four seasons and received Cy Young votes in both 2022 and 2024. That’s the kind of durability and performance the Mets desperately need at the top of their rotation.
With Steve Cohen’s deep pockets, the Mets could easily absorb Cease’s salary and potential extension. They might be willing to part with promising young talent to acquire him before the 2025 trade deadline, giving them exclusive negotiating rights before he hits the open market.
For a team that’s gone all-in with the Soto acquisition, adding a true ace like Cease could be the final piece that transforms the Mets from contenders to favorites.
