The San Diego Padres may be considering an unexpected move this offseason, but only if the conditions are right.
Several of their star players are approaching the final year of their contract arbitration eligibility, which caps their salaries before they can sign long-term contracts in free agency. As a result, the Padres might explore trading these players to gain value before they move on to new contracts with other teams.
One player who has become a possible trade candidate is Dylan Cease, a starting pitcher who received Cy Young and Most Valuable Player votes for his impressive 2024 season.
However, if the Padres do decide to trade Cease, PJ Potter of Friars On Base has recommended they focus on securing a trade that yields a significant return from the Baltimore Orioles, who possess one of the most deep and talented farm systems in baseball.
“Cease has been connected with the Orioles (as well as other clubs) in a potential trade, and if Baltimore wants him then they will have to send over a haul of prospects to make it worthwhile for San Diego,” Potter wrote. “Baltimore has two prospects in the MLB Top 100, and the Padres would hope that one of these players are included in the deal. Coby Mayo (No. 8) and Samuel Basallo (No. 13) are versatile infielders who could fill a few Padres needs.”
Mayo is projected to be a big-league first baseman or third baseman, having posted a .287/.364/.562 line in 345 Triple-A at-bats in 2024 before getting a brief 41 at-bat stint with the major league team. Basallo, on the other hand, is a catcher who hit .289/.355/.465 in Double-A this past season.
Both players are under 24 years old and could provide a valuable boost to a Padres farm system that has been thinned out by several trades aimed at competing in 2024 and 2025. In addition to Mayo and Basallo, the Orioles boast a number of other highly-rated prospects who could further enhance a potential trade package for Cease.
With this in mind, the Padres may look to strike a deal with the Orioles if they decide to trade their star pitcher in an effort to rebuild their farm system.
“The Orioles have consistently had one of the best farm systems across Major League Baseball,” Potter added. “So if the Padres are actually going to reduce payroll and let go of some All-Stars, then maybe it makes the most sense to spin a deal with Baltimore. Odds are, one of their prospects will turn into a stud.”
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