Padres’ trade deadline gamble could end up rescuing the Reds’ season

A bizarre strategy has emerged with the MLB trade deadline barely 24 hours away — several teams are trying to thread the needle by both buying and selling at the same time. One such club looking to do just that is the San Diego Padres. If this plan backfires, it could open the door for the Cincinnati Reds to take full advantage.

Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease, a finalist for the Cy Young Award last season, is becoming an attractive trade chip at the deadline. Recent reports from The Athletic (subscription required) signaled that the Houston Astros are looking to acquire Cease before Thursday's deadline.

The Padres are squarely in the middle of the postseason picture at the moment and maintain a three-game lead over the Reds in the NL Wild Card standings. But Padres' top executive A.J. Preller is looking to bolster San Diego's lineup by using Cease as a means to acquire an extra bat. That's a bold strategy, and if it fails, the Reds could be right there to snag the Wild Card spot away from the Friars.

Padres’ trade deadline gamble could end up rescuing the Reds’ season

Cease isn't having the type of Cy Young season he did in 2024. The right-hander, who'll be a free agent after this season, is 3-10 with a 4.79 ERA in 22 starts this season. Cease has swing-and-miss stuff with 153 punch outs in 118⅓ innings this season and is among the league leaders whiff rate (33.8%) and strikeout rate (29.9%).

Preller and the Padres have been linked to Boston Red Sox star Jarren Duran, former Chicago White Sox All-Star Luis Robert Jr., and resurgent Baltimore Orioles outfielder Ramon Laureano. While all three of those players would look good with a wishbone 'C' on their cap, Reds President of Baseball Operations wouldn't sacrifice one of Cincinnati's top starters in order to make that type of upgrade. It appears, however, that Preller is looking to do just that.

The Padres are already down Michael King and Joe Musgrove, so parting with Cease at the deadline is certainly risky. While San Diego has received a tremendous performance from Nick Pivetta this season, the Pads have little depth behind their ace.

Though Preller's plan could blow up in his face, the Reds have no shot to make up any ground in the Wild Card chase if they don't make some moves of their own. Cincinnati needs to add a bat and perhaps a reliever or two before the deadline passes at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday.

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