The San Diego Padres hugely improved an already good bullpen on Thursday morning and also added more fuel to the speculation that they will trade Dylan Cease before the MLB trade deadline.
On Wednesday night, MLB trade rumors swirled that the general manager, AJ Preller, was being aggressive in pursuit of Athletics stud closer Mason Miller . Well, hours before Thursday's deadline, the Pads pulled off a blockbuster deal for the 26-year-old fireballer.
In the reported trade , San Diego gets Miller and starting pitcher JP Sears . In exchange, they are sending the A's top prospect, Leo De Vries. A player who is ranked as the third best in all of baseball on MLB.com's latest prospect rankings . Reports suggested the A's wanted a top 25-level prospect, and they landed an elite youngster in the deal.
Let's look at what the blockbuster trade means for the Padres before the MLB trade deadline hits, and their aspirations to knock off the Los Angeles Dodgers and get to the World Series this fall.
Over the last week, speculation has grown that Dylan Cease could be on his way out. Heading into today's trade deadline, new rumors pointed to the Houston Astros having him at the top of their trade wish list. What makes the Cease trade speculation fascinating is that San Diego is in the thick of the Wild Card race and just three games behind the Dodgers in the NL West.
Moving him would seem very risky. Because, despite a down season, he could get hot and be an ace-level pitcher down the stretch. However, with the addition of JP Sears, they get a solid veteran replacement to fill his spot. There have also been rumors that they have looked into a trade for Charlie Morton . A 41-year-old who is having a down year but is very good in the postseason.
Despite his disappointing numbers this season, Cease is a big addition for interested teams like the Astros. If the Padres feel they could sure up other areas on the roster, they could get a very nice return for the 2022 AL Cy Young runner-up. The club moving the pitcher today seems like a lock.
The Padres had one of the best pens in baseball. Closer Robert Suarez anchors a group that currently has a league-leading 2.99 ERA. A case could be made that upgrading that part of the roster was not necessary. However, the Dodgers showed last fall that an elite bullpen can help you win a championship. With a player that averages over 101 MPH on his fastball, San Diego now has the undisputed best pen in MLB.
It also must be noted that some in the game believe Miller has potential as a top-end starting pitcher in his future. While giving up a top prospect for a reliever seems absurd, if San Diego believes he can be converted into an All-Star-level starter like many others have been in recent years (see Garrett Crochet ), it is a very good short-term and long-term move.
As for the now and their goal to get back to the World Series for the first time since 1998, Sears is the key addition in the move. It gives them far more flexibility to find the right return for Cease. He will have a solid amount of suitors. The return in a trade for him could really round out the roster and make the Padres a serious problem for the Dodgers in the fall.
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