For the second consecutive season, right-hander Dylan Cease is probably the most talked about participant in commerce rumors because the winter provides approach to spring coaching.
The then-White Sox hurler was shipped to the Padres in mid-March of final 12 months, simply earlier than San Diego began their season in Seoul. It stays to be seen if the membership will flip round and deal him through the spring themselves one 12 months 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 attainable that he’ll be a Padre in 2025 even when it’s tough to think about him returning to San Diego upon hitting free company this offseason. As Cassavell notes, nevertheless, a commerce is likely to be probably the most smart path for the Padres as they navigate a funds crunch with a number of vital holes of their projected 2025 lineup. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Stop carry again the type of vital return that would handle a number of wants for the Padres whereas additionally getting his $13.75M wage off the books to clear the best way for additional additions.
With that being mentioned, getting the best deal for Stop could also be simpler mentioned than completed. The Cubs, Twins and Mets are among the many groups which have been related to Stop in current days, however there have been some indications from each Minnesota and New York {that a} commerce could possibly be tough 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 consider the membership is “emboldened” by the distinctive return they acquired from the Yankees in final winter’s Juan Soto deal. Hayes stories that the Twins are unwilling to half with high prospects like Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez and Luke Keaschall and like to supply a bundle of huge leaguers who can assist handle San Diego’s wants within the lineup and rotation.
That may sound just like the groups match up properly at first look, however Hayes provides that the specifics of the return bundle determine to be a sticking level.
He means that the Padres are more likely to ask for considered one of Joe Ryan or Bailey Ober because the centerpiece of a deal, which is an ask that it’s laborious to think about Minnesota agreeing to provided that each are established, high quality mid-rotation arms with three years of crew management remaining. Hayes notes that the Twins would like to supply a bundle headlined by a younger starter like Zebby Matthews or Simeon Woods Richardson that may additionally embrace Trevor Larnach and Willi Castro. Woods Richardson posted stable back-of-the-rotation manufacturing for the Twins in his rookie season final 12 months, with a 4.17 ERA in 28 begins, whereas Matthews struggled in 9 begins on the large league degree however stays the membership’s high pitching prospect and is mostly believed to mission 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 important, and the perimeters 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 lately described Stop coming to Queens as “unlikely” because of the anticipated acquisition price. Whether or not that’s as a result of a scarcity of willingness to half with a high-end bundle or if the membership merely lacks the items essential to get a deal completed is unclear, nevertheless, as Sammon goes on to say the membership’s failed pursuit of Garrett Crochet earlier this winter. The Mets had been amongst plenty of groups taken with Crochet, however he in the end was dealt to the Pink Sox as a result of, as Sammon writes, Boston was capable of supply “higher-quality prospects” than the Mets had been.
Sammon goes on to means that the Mets might swing a deal if the Padres’ asking worth comes down by way of the spring or revisit talks on the commerce deadline, when Stop can be much less priceless as a result of an buying membership now not with the ability to prolong him the qualifying supply.
After all, a Stop commerce could also be far much less possible 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 tough to think about the membership then shifting gears and transport Stop out in the midst of a pennant race except they’ve fallen out of rivalry.
