The San Diego Padres could be losing one of their biggest starting pitchers this winter.
Dylan Cease is expected to become a free agent when the season comes to an end, and Sports Illustrated writer Jackson Roberts believes Cease will sign with the Chicago Cubs.
“Don’t sleep on Cease’s potential to shift the power dynamics of the league next season,” Roberts wrote. “He may not have an impressive ERA this season (4.59 after Saturday’s start), but he’s the only pitcher in all of baseball to tally at least 200 strikeouts in each of the last five seasons. It doesn’t seem likely that the Padres’ financial situation will allow them to retain the 29-year-old righty, but there’s a National League rival with money to spend who could really use a right-handed starter.”
Cease has been up and down this year for the Padres, but he has consistently went out to the mound and worked through five or six innings for San Diego. It’s a trait high-level starting pitchers are expected to have in today’s game which makes Cease an asset the best teams in the league will try to pursue.
“Prediction: Cease signs with Chicago Cubs,” wrote Roberts.
The Cubs would be a great fit for Cease as their rotation could certainly use some depth. Justin Steele’s health is going to be a big question throughout the offseason, and Chicago can’t rely on him to be ready to go for spring training. Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon will be integral parts of the rotation along with rookie Cade Horton, but Cease’s addition would bolster the rotation.