The Padres haven’t been afraid to swing a big trade and AJ Preller proved that to be true on March 13. With one week before the Padres open up 2024 in Seoul, San Diego swung a trade for Dylan Cease, the now-former White Sox ace who has been the subject of trade rumors for months.

The Padres’ Return

• SP Dylan Cease (4.58 ERA, 214 K over 177 IP)

There are very few pitchers in the game who can induce a swing-and-miss like Dylan Cease. Cease’s 667 strikeouts from 2021-23 ranked fourth-most in MLB from 2021-23, behind only Kevin Gausman (669), the recently-traded ace Corbin Burnes (677), and Gerrit Cole (722). And, Cease’s 1,437 whiffs during that time were most in the Majors.

Cease has the total package. His four-seam fastball sits in the mid-90s and Cease has good carry (18.7” of IVB in 2023) on the pitch. That pitch can get outs on its own but pairs exceptionally well with Cease’s slider, arguably his best pitch.

Additionally, Cease will break in a hard curve that sits in the low-80s, along with a mid-to-high 70s changeup that’s also a good weapon but one he mainly uses against lefties.

Cease has four above-average or better weapons. However, command has been a sticking point for the righty. It’s been an issue that’s either led to walks (3.8 BB/9 from 2021-23) or the long ball.

The Padres will have control of Cease through the end of 2025.

The White Sox’s Return

• SP Drew Thorpe (2.52 ERA, 182 K over 139.1 IP (A+ and AA))
• SP Jairo Iriarte (3.49 ERA, 128 K over 90.1 IP) (A+ and AA)
• RP Steven Wilson (3.91 ERA, 57 K over 53 IP)
• OF Samuel Zavala (.243/.391/.406, 14 HR and 37 XBH in 115 G) (A and A+)

Drew Thorpe spent just three months in the Padres organization after the righty was acquired from the Yankees in the Juan Soto trade.

As we noted back in December, Thorpe had an electric 2023 campaign between Hudson Valley (A+) and Somerset (AA), as he struck out 182 batters over 139.1 IP and held opposing batters to a .200 batting average.

The book on Thorpe is that the new White Sox prospect works with a plus change, as well as a low-to-mid 90s sinker and a slider. Thorpe pitched very well this spring in big league camp, as the ex-Padre threw seven scoreless frames and struck out six this spring.

The other piece to this deal is Jairo Iriarte, a 22-year-old righty who saw time both in the bullpen and rotation last year in the Padres organization.

The big piece to Iriarte’s arsenal is a booming fastball that sat in the 94-96 MPH range but reportedly can hit the upper-90s per MLB.com. The new White Sox also possesses a low-90s changeup and mid-80s slider, both of which showed to be effective in the Minors.

Iriarte, though, had a BB/9 rate of 4.5, as he walked 45 over 90.1 IP. He could be a reliever but the presence of three pitchers that can get whiffs does make Iriarte a pitcher who can be an interesting starting option.

Chicago also acquired outfielder Samuel Zavala, who liked Thorpe (#5) and Iriarte (#8) and was ranked in the top ten of the Padres’ farm per MLB.com. Zavala (#7 per MLB.com in Padres organization) held his own as a 19-year-old in A-ball, as the teenager posted a very strong .420 OBP in the California League before moving up to Fort Wayne.

Padres reliever Steven Wilson, a 29-year-old who has been very effective in each of the last two seasons for San Diego, is also reportedly in the deal.

Analysis

The Padres lost Blake Snell — who’s yet to sign with a team — in free agency this past winter. With Cease, the Padres get somewhat of a similar pitcher, albeit one with a higher ceiling.

Cease is only 28 years old, and the righty’s been one of the game’s premier strikeout pitchers over the last three years. The new Padre will join Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove to form a very formidable trio atop the San Diego rotation.

His new home should make Cease not just a more tempting fantasy target but also may help the Padres — who didn’t give up Robby Snelling or Dylan Lesko — get closer to a playoff birth.

As for the White Sox, the deal officially ends the Cease saga after months of trade rumors. Just over the last few days, the Padres, Rangers, and Yankees were among the teams linked to Cease.

While the Sox didn’t get the marquee name, Chicago did get back three prospects with high upside, including a potential five-tool outfielder and two prospective future starters.