Dylan Cease had a fantastic debut year in a Padres uniform this summer, and supporters in San Diego want him to stay with the team for the long haul. He had his fourth consecutive season with 200 or more strikeouts, and he helped the Friars finish as one of the greatest teams in the National League before they were eliminated in the Division Series.
As you can expect, fans hoped he’d stay in Southern California for the foreseeable future thanks to a prospective contract extension. This hopeful request can be put on pause, however. Padres insider AJ Cassavell gave some insight into Cease as part of a package of information regarding the future of San Diego’s pitching staff. Keeping Cease beyond 2025 does not seem likely … for now.
“Cease, a career frontline ace, seems unlikely to sign an extension this winter, considering the hefty paycheck presumably awaiting him next offseason,” according to Cassavell.
Padres Rumors: Dylan Cease is unlikely to sign an extension with SD.
Cease would likely cost any team more than $100 million when his time comes, and he may even reach $200 million with the appropriate contract year. Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts, Yu Darvish, and Joe Musgrove all have contracts for $100 million or more, with Machado and Tatis Jr. signed for $300 million each.
This makes it tough for the San Diego front office to keep Cease. Could the 28-year-old right-hander negotiate a wage cut if it included postseason bonuses and nearly a guarantee of playing on a winning team? It’s good to think this way, but Scott Boras clients usually opt for the highest amount of guaranteed money.
It’s unfortunate, but this is the nature of the beast. Cease led the Friars to a spectacular 2024 season, pitching a no-hitter and toeing the rubber 33 times. Has he already given his best effort in a Padres jersey? Despite having one year left on his contract at Petco Park, it will be difficult to exceed what he accomplished this season.
Then again, he blew up twice in the playoffs, which raised some fears and led some supporters to believe they could sign Cease at a discount right now. He will be a commodity in free agency following the 2025 season, regardless of his postseason performance. And, while a contract extension may be out of the question right now, trading him is clearly not the best option, regardless of what some pundits may believe.
The aim is that the 2025 Padres go on a run, and everything else comes into place. They just need to make a few roster changes this summer, so there’s no need to put too much pressure on themselves.
Leave a Reply