The Baltimore Orioles need a staff ace after let Corbin Burnes to walk this winter. After avoiding the free agent market, could the answer be found on the West Coast?
Across the country from Maryland Bay, the San Diego Padres are apparently marketing Dylan Cease to interested teams. The Padres, who are among the finalists for Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, are aiming to reduce their payroll spending while remaining in National League contention.
If San Diego were to sign Sasaki, Cease would become much more available for the appropriate deal. Just Baseball’s Rachael Millanta believes that the right offer might come from Baltimore.
“Considering the Orioles’ obvious need for a top-of-the-rotation arm, their interest in Cease is hardly surprising, especially since
His $13.75 million salary confirms that he will be much less expensive than any comparable hurler available in free agency,” Millanta said. “From the Padres’ perspective, the Orioles are also an ideal trade partner. The Padres have traded away several top prospects in recent seasons to secure their present talent, resulting in a diminished farm system.” Cease, the former ace of the Chicago White Sox, was moved to San Diego last winter and promptly became the team’s No. 1 starter.
He has reached the 200-strikeout threshold in each of the last four seasons, finishing 14-11 with 224 Ks and a 3.47 ERA last season.
These are the kinds of numbers that would undoubtedly fit Baltimore is currently confronted with the proposition of staying pace in the ultra-competitive American League East with capable, but not lockdown, Zach Eflin penciled in as the team’s top starter.
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