The Atlanta Braves are looking to strengthen their starting rotation, which faced depth issues in 2024.
Chris Sale was outstanding, winning the National League Cy Young Award, and Max Fried was also excellent, though he has since signed with the New York Yankees. Reynaldo Lopez showed promise when healthy, but injuries have limited his potential. Meanwhile, Charlie Morton is a free agent and seems unlikely to return to Atlanta.
To address these gaps, the Braves could pursue a blockbuster trade, and the San Diego Padres might be the perfect trade partner.
FanSided’s Jacob Mountz recently suggested the Braves target Padres ace Dylan Cease in a trade this offseason. Cease is projected to earn $13 million in 2025 before hitting free agency, where he’s expected to secure a $108 million deal, according to Spotrac.
Mountz highlighted Cease’s impressive 2022 season, when he finished as the runner-up for the AL Cy Young with a stellar 2.20 ERA, despite leading the MLB with 78 walks. “If the Braves can revive his 2022 performance, which seems possible given their coaching staff’s track record, they’ll have a championship-caliber team,” Mountz wrote.
Acquiring Cease would likely require a steep price. The Braves would probably have to part with one of their top pitching prospects, though they may hold onto Spencer Schwellenbach and AJ Smith-Shawver if possible. Players like Bryce Elder and Hurston Waldrep could be involved in the trade discussions.
While no formal talks are currently underway, this kind of trade makes sense as the Braves look to solidify their rotation for the upcoming season.
