The Toronto Blue Jays are in danger of losing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette next offseason. Resultingly, they could try to maximize their opportunity to win in 2025 by adding a superstar through trade.
While listing realistic trades that could be made before spring training, Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer proposed this trade that brings Dylan Cease from the San Diego Padres to the Blue Jays:
- Blue Jays receive: right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease
- Padres receive: right-handed pitcher Yariel Rodríguez and left-handed pitcher Ricky Tiedemann
“With the Blue Jays now left to consider Plan Bs, their eyes frankly should be on Cease,” wrote Rymer. “His effectiveness has waxed and waned, but he has a 3.52 ERA and 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings over the last four seasons. While he is only under team control through 2025, the stars are aligning for the Blue Jays to go all-in on this year anyway.”
Tiedemann is one of the best prospects in baseball. According to MLB Pipeline, he was the No. 32 overall prospect in 2023 and is currently the Blue Jays No. 4 prospect. The Padres would be getting a potential piece to their rotation for years to come. Cease will be a free agent after the season anyway and the Padres may want to get a return before he potentially walks.
The Blue Jays were willing to spend on Corbin Burnes, so they could trade for Cease and give him an extension before he even hits free agency. Spotrac projects him to sign a five-year, $108 million deal in free agency. Last season he had a 3.47 ERA with 224 strikeouts. He finished fourth in the National League Cy Young Award voting. He was the American League Cy Young Award runner-up in 2022. He has made 30-plus starts in each of the last four seasons.
Cease could be an ace for the Blue Jays. A rotation of Cease, Kevin Gausman, José Berríos and Chris Bassitt could be a great group for the Blue Jays.