An offseason of rumors has come to an end. The are trading their right-handed ace, and his landing spot is a surprise. San Diego. The are close to acquiring Cease, trumping the by agreeing to part with a steep package of young talent, according to major-league sources briefed on the discussions. Padres prospects , and and reliever are the four players going to the White Sox for Cease, per sources.
King, too, is under control through ’25, while Musgrove is signed through ’27 and Darvish through ’28. In 2022, Cease’s breakthrough season, he went 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA, finishing second to ’s in the American League Cy Young Award voting. Cease wasn’t as effective in ’23, going 7-9 with a 4.58 ERA. But executives around the league continue to view him as a potential ace. Wilson, 29, was projected to be one of the Padres’ leverage relievers after logging a 3.