COULD DYLAN CEASE REALLY BE IN THE MIX?

Once again, the Yankees find themselves at the center of a tantalizing offseason rumor: Could they land Dylan Cease in a trade with the Padres? While it might feel like this idea came out of left field, it’s worth remembering the last time we seriously discussed this potential pairing. 

Back in February 2024, the buzz was loud—so loud, in fact, that we speculated whether the Yankees might be willing to part with top prospect Spencer Jones to make it happen. Then, Cease landed in San Diego, and the entire conversation vanished into thin air.

But now, that chatter is bubbling back up—and credit where it’s due: this storyline has been a brainchild of FanSided. Their coverage of the Yankees’ offseason has been great, and I tip my cap to them for reviving this intriguing concept. It’s a brilliant idea, especially when you consider how quiet the Yankees have been and how often their name has been tied to Padres players like Jurickson Profar, Ha-Seong Kim, and even Luis Arráez. Imagine pulling off moves for one or more of those guys in addition to Cease. Sure, it might be wishful thinking to land them all, but working out a deal for Cease or perhaps adding Kim—a player we at Bleeding Yankee Blue love, especially with his upcoming free-agent status—isn’t out of the question.

Cease is the kind of pitcher every contending team covets. He’s a top-tier arm who’s ready to deliver in the postseason, and since he’s set to hit free agency after 2025, he’s unlikely to sign an extension beforehand. For the Padres, who are weighed down by long-term contracts and ownership turmoil, moving Cease now makes sense. For the Yankees, acquiring him wouldn’t require a massive prospect haul, and his contract would give the team financial flexibility heading into next offseason.

Sure, the Yankees don’t have an overflowing treasure chest of assets. But neither do the Minnesota Twins, who have also been linked to Cease. If Minnesota’s thin farm system and limited major-league trade chips don’t scare off San Diego, why should New York feel like they’re out of the race?

A package centered around Clarke Schmidt, Everson Pereira, and Jorbit Vivas could get the Padres' attention. Schmidt offers an MLB-ready arm to replace Cease, while Pereira and Vivas add value to San Diego’s farm system, filling voids left by players like Ha-Seong Kim and Jurickson Profar. And if the Yankees are feeling especially bold, they could revisit Spencer Jones’s name to sweeten the deal.

Look, San Diego might hold onto Cease until the trade deadline, when demand for starting pitchers peaks, but why wait? By acting now, the Yankees could lock in a frontline starter to pair with Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and Carlos Rodón while avoiding a potential bidding war in July.

Imagine this rotation in 2025. That’s a staff built to not only dominate the AL East but also to go toe-to-toe with powerhouse teams like the Dodgers for the World Series rematch we Yankee fans are longing for.

Bringing Dylan Cease to the Bronx might feel like a pipe dream, but it’s far from unattainable. With the Yankees connected to Padres players throughout the offseason and the Padres facing their own financial constraints, the groundwork is there for a deal. 

So, hats off to FanSided for sparking a great story.