The San Diego Padres have traded for Dylan Cease

The 2022 season was Cease’s best, as he had a 2.20 ERA and a 3.10 FIP in 184 innings pitched, along with a 30.4 K% and a 10.4 BB%. He finished second in American League Cy Young voting, ahead of Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah but behind Justin Verlander.

Cease had a rough season in 2023, posting a 4.58 ERA and a 3.72 FIP in 177 innings pitched, along with a 27.3 K% and a 10.1 BB%. In fairness, the Chicago White Sox were a horrendous team, finishing second last in the abysmal American League Central.

It’s likely that the trade is to replace the departing Blake Snell, who is still a free agent as we’re just over two weeks away from the season. This is an interesting move for the Padres, as they traded superstar outfielder Juan Soto to the New York Yankees at the start of the off-season. Speaking of the Yankees, this trade has another important factor.

What does this mean for the Yankees

Earlier on Wednesday, NY Post’s Jon Heyman reported that New York Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole will be out for at least a month or two, and will visit Neal ElAttrache for further examination.

What we know right now is that the reigning American League Cy Young winner doesn’t have a tear in his elbow, but aside from that, it’s speculation. It is worth mentioning that Andy Martino of SportsNet New York wrote on Wednesday that the Yankees aren’t likely to sign Blake Snell, nor were they ever really in on Cease, as Martino said it was “unlikely”.

Depending on how long the reigning Cy Young winner is out, the Yankees could be in a tough spot with their rotation. Their big signing of the off-season for the position was Marcus Stroman, who had an okay season with the Chicago Cubs in 2023.

Aside from that, they have Carlos Ródon, who had a really bad season last season, Clarke Schmidt, Nestor Cortes, and Clayton Beeter, according to Fangraphs’ depth chart. It’s worth mentioning that they traded numerous pitchers in the deal for Soto, so it’s really a spot of weakness for the team now with Cole down.

With all that being said, the Yankees are probably still the favourites to win the very competitive American League East this season with the addition of Juan Soto. Baltimore is equally as dangerous, while the Tampa Bay Rays are the Tampa Bay Rays, of course they’ll be competitive.

Get ready for another season in the stacked AL East.