The New York Mets significantly improved their roster over the winter, adding Juan Soto, Frankie Montas, Clay Holmes and A.J. Minter in addition to the re-signings of Pete Alonso and Sean Manaea. However, with a flaring hole atop the Mets rotation, New York has been linked in recent MLB rumors to a Dylan Cease trade.
Cease, age 29, was acquired by the San Diego Padres in March 2024 for a package of the club’s top prospects. He thrived as part of the Padres’ rotation, throwing a no-hitter on July 25 and earning All MLB Second Team honors for the first time since 2022.
- New York Mets payroll 2025 (FanGraphs): $331 million
However, many around the league have raised concerns about the club’s long-term outlook with ownership behind the push to reduce the Padres payroll in 2025. It’s why Cease first popped up in MLB trade rumors, with San Diego listening to inquiries on the All-Star pitcher along with several other All-Star players (Jake Croneworthy, Luis Arraez and Robert Suarez) on the roster. If New York wants Cease, it’ll come at a hefty cost.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Padres are “believed to like” Mets top prospect Luisangel Acuña as a potential key return in a trade for Cease. San Diego also reportedly has interest in Brandon Sproat, Nolan McClean and Jonah Tong among several other Mets top prospects.
- San Diego Padres payroll 2025: $207 million
Sproat, the consensus top prospect in the Mets’ farm system, isn’t viewed as a high-upside pitcher by many evaluators. However, he could be pitching in the majors later this year and cost-controlled pitching is one of the most valuable things to a club seeking to shed payroll.
Luisangel Acuna is often ranked fourth among the Mets top prospects in 2025. The 22-year-old made his MLB debut this past season, posting a .966 OPS with a .308/.325/.641 triple-slash line in 14 games. While he doesn’t have the ceiling of his brother, Ronald Acuña Jr, Luisangel is viewed as a future above-average everyday player if he develops.
For now, a trade between the Padres and Mets isn’t imminent. The two clubs discussed a deal earlier this winter but never came close on the parameters of a trade. If San Diego gets off to a slow start this season, with Cease on an expiring contract, the two sides could revisit a deal.
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