Back in December, reports indicated that the Orioles had shown interest in trading for Dylan Cease, and recently, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com confirmed that the Orioles and Padres had engaged in discussions about the right-handed pitcher’s availability. However, it remains unclear whether the talks progressed, as Kubatko mentioned that San Diego had inquired about several key Baltimore players—such as All-Star infielder Jordan Westburg and top prospects Coby Mayo and Samuel Basallo—who were reportedly off-limits in trade discussions. While the exact nature of the talks isn’t fully known, it is likely that one of these players would have been central to a potential trade package involving Cease and possibly additional players heading to Baltimore.
Padres president of baseball operations, A.J. Preller, is reportedly seeking substantial major-league value in exchange for Cease, which is understandable given that the pitcher is one of the Padres’ top trade assets. Acquiring Westburg would have addressed San Diego’s second base needs for the foreseeable future, Mayo could have been the Padres’ first baseman of the future, and Basallo is projected to be a valuable piece at either first base or catcher. Though the Padres already have one of the top catching prospects in Ethan Salas, adding to their future depth at such a crucial position could have created an embarrassment of riches for them.
For similar reasons, the Orioles were reportedly not interested in parting with these key players. As Kubatko pointed out, it is especially unlikely that Baltimore—or any other team—would trade away controllable talent for Cease, who is set to hit free agency next offseason.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Orioles had previously made a significant trade for a rental pitcher, acquiring Corbin Burnes from the Brewers for a package including Joey Ortiz, DL Hall, and the 34th overall pick in the 2024 draft. This trade has often been cited as a potential blueprint for a Cease deal, though the Orioles have already depleted some of their minor-league depth in that move, making it less likely they would be willing to make another large trade for a pitcher with only one year of control.
Other teams, such as the Twins, Mets, Cubs, and Red Sox, have also been linked to Cease in trade rumors, but reports have suggested that Minnesota and New York were either unwilling or unable to meet the Padres’ demands. The Red Sox had already parted with young talent to acquire Garrett Crochet from the White Sox, making it less likely they’d also want to move additional players for Cease.
With weeks remaining before Opening Day, it’s still possible that any of these teams—or even the Orioles—could revisit trade talks if the Padres lower their asking price. Additionally, injuries during Spring Training could lead to new teams entering the mix, potentially increasing the urgency for a trade and prompting them to offer a larger package that might meet San Diego’s needs.
While an ace pitcher like Cease was once seen as a top priority for the Orioles, they chose to make more moderate additions, signing Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton to one-year contracts. These new additions will join a starting rotation that includes Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin, and Dean Kremer, with Albert Suarez providing bullpen depth and Cade Povich, Trevor Rogers, and Chayce McDermott offering additional options at Triple-A. With Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells returning from UCL surgeries, the Orioles could potentially have a surplus of rotation options if everyone is healthy. This could make sense for a trade involving a younger, big-league-ready arm from Baltimore as part of the Cease deal. However, considering that Eflin, Morton, and Sugano will all be free agents after this season, the Orioles may hope to use their pitching depth to strengthen their rotation for the future, particularly looking ahead to 2026.
