In a major shakeup in the baseball world, the San Diego Padres have made a bold move to strengthen their pitching staff. The team has acquired Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease in a trade that sent reliever Steven Wilson and three of the Padres’ top 10 prospects to Chicago.
The White Sox received pitching prospects Drew Thorpe, Jairo Iriarte, and outfielder Samuel Zavala in exchange for Cease, who had an impressive 2022 season and was a runner-up in the AL Cy Young voting. With Cease under contract until 2025, the Padres are hoping he will add depth to their rotation, which already boasts Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and Michael King.
The Yankees were also reportedly interested in acquiring Cease, but the deal ultimately fell through, leaving them without a top starting pitcher as Gerrit Cole deals with injury concerns. However, there is speculation that the Yankees could turn their attention to former White Sox pitcher Mike Clevinger, who is still a free agent.
Despite making moves this offseason to cut payroll, the Padres are showing that they are still willing to make significant moves to improve their roster. The addition of Cease is a clear indicator of their commitment to contending in the upcoming season. Baseball fans will be eagerly watching to see how these moves impact the upcoming season.
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