Suddenly distressed Padres offer Reds surprising alternative to Garrett Crochet

The Cincinnati Reds opened the offseason with a splash, swapping Jonathan India for Brady Singer, and all signs pointed to a buzz-worthy winter. Since then, Cincinnati has whiffed on several big names; the latest being top arm Garrett Crochet. The Reds’ name floating involving trade candidates and free agents indicates the team could be willing to jump into the fray and make off with a prime target any day now. What better way to pivot from Crochet than picking up his former teammate: Dylan Cease?

Cease moved from the Chicago White Sox to the San Diego Padres just before the 2024 season as the Friars were scrambling to build a roster that could compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers juggernaut. The Padres went all in, but despite strong seasons from Cease and Michael King as co-aces, they fell one win short of defeating the division-rival Dodgers in the NLDS.

Now, San Diego is facing an offseason in which they might lose key bats Jurickson Profar and Ha-Seong Kim. As a result, Cease may be on the trade block.

After missing out on Garrett Crochet, the Reds may target another former White Sox ace: Dylan Cease

Dependability is the name of the game for Cease. He has led his league in games started in three of his four full pro seasons, and he has finished in the top 5 of Cy Young voting twice. Cease has some detractors, who point to his high walk rate and wildness, but his durability would outweigh any control issues.

Even with the acquisition of Singer and the re-signing of Nick Martinez, the Reds will need rotation workhorses. Only one staff member, Hunter Greene, eclipsed 150 innings in 2024, and Cincinnati may be looking to Rhett Lowder to shoulder a heavy load. An innings-eater like Cease would help lighten the strain.

San Diego may be willing to deal with the Reds, whose most valuable trade chips are their prospects. The Padres offloaded a significant portion of their farm system to bring in Cease and Luis Arráez in 2024, and other top prospects, such as Jackson Merrill, have graduated to the majors. The Reds could tempt the Friars with highly-ranked but risky prospects such as Connor Phillips.

The Reds still need to address their most pressing need: the outfield. Pitching may not be at the forefront of the front office’s mind, but if it is, Cease could be a perfect fit.

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