Another way for the Mets to upgrade their pitching...

The Mets should seriously consider trading for San Diego's ace, Dylan Cease. Plus, could Michael King be an option too?

What’s up with the Mets? 🍎

• The Mets are among several teams that remain in the mix for free agent left-handed reliever Tim Hill (SI)

• Gary Cohen will be hosting an ‘Amazin’ Conversations’ event with Steve Cohen, David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza at 7 p.m. ET on SNY on Tuesday night

• RHP Brandon Sproat (No. 30), SS Jett Williams (No. 61) and INF Ronny Mauricio (No. 91) all featured in Keith Law’s 2025 Top 100 MLB Prospects ranking list (The Athletic)

• OF José Siri was on the winning team as Leones del Escogido defeated the Tigres del Licey in a thrilling Game 7 of the LIDOM Championship on Monday night

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Rumor Mill 💨

• The Astros are showing strong interest in free agent veteran infielder Jorge Polanco (The Athletic)

• Former Met righty reliever Ryne Stanek is drawing interest with the Braves and the Cubs, with other teams perhaps involved too (MLB.com)

• The Padres have discussed RHP Michael King in trade talks, with RHP Dylan Cease also remaining in play too (The Athletic)

• The Angels are still looking to fill two, maybe even three bullpen spots this offseason (The Athletic)

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The Mets should really consider a Dylan Cease trade… ✍️

AP

The San Diego Padres could be a team to keep an eye on for the rest of this offseason.

According to multiple reports, the Padres, looking to cut payroll, are shopping a pair of right-handed pitchers in Michael King and Dylan Cease.

If I were president of baseball operations David Stearns, I’d be getting on the phone to San Diego president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller right now to try and swing a deal for Cease.

It is no secret that the Mets will open spring training with significant question marks hovering over their starting rotation. Sean Manaea figures to be the only sure thing as the team’s ace. It is hard to work out what to expect from Kodai Senga after an injury-ravaged 2024 season. David Peterson was lights out last year, but the jury is still out on whether or not he can be a consistent top-of-the-rotation kind of arm. Tylor Megill is wildly inconsistent. Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes are both boom-or-bust experiments at this point. And Paul Blackburn and Griffin Canning are solid back-of-the-rotation options. Maybe prospect Brandon Sproat would be ready for a call-up at some point during the year, too.

So, it goes without saying that, in an ideal world, the Mets could do with upgrading that rotation before Opening Day arrives. Especially if that ideal world involves competing for a World Series in 2025.

And that’s why trading for Cease would make so much sense.

The righty is coming off a very good 2024 season with the Padres, going 14-11 with a 3.47 ERA and 224 strikeouts. That was good enough to finish fourth in National League Cy Young voting. Cease also finished second in American League Cy Young voting while with the White Sox in 2022.

Cease proved that he can pitch at an ace-like level for the Padres, and he’s a strikeout machine as proved by his 29.4% K% in 2024. He also cut his walk rate down from 10.1% in 2023 to 8.5% in 2024.

Acquiring a player of Cease’s caliber would automatically give the Mets a legit one-two punch at the top of their rotation with Manaea. That would take some of the pressure off of Senga, who can slot in as the ballclub’s No. 3 starter as he aims to put together a healthy season. There would then be plenty of competition and depth for the last remaining rotation spots, especially if the Mets decide to go with a six-man rotation in 2025.

Cease would change the entire makeup of the starting rotation, giving it a lot more upside and more boom than bust potential. If the Mets really want to go toe-to-toe with the Dodgers and their loaded rotation this coming season, then I do believe it is paramount that they add another high-end arm to that current group.

Cease would tick that box.

The 29-year-old will earn $13.75 million in 2025 and he can become a free agent heading into the 2026 season. Now, it is worth noting that per Pat Ragazzo of SI, who covers the Mets for Sports Illustrated, Cease won’t come cheap. The asking price for the righty is expected to be high. Maybe throwing a veteran like Jeff McNeil or Tylor Megill in with a couple of prospects would be a good way to sweeten the pot while not totally dismantling the top of the farm system.

Alternatively, Cease’s San Diego teammate Michael King could be a cheaper option. He will also be a one-year rental and will earn just over $8 million in 2025. Sure, King doesn’t offer the same kind of upside or elite stuff as Cease, but he would be a solid arm in the middle of that rotation and the asking price would probably be reasonable.

No matter how you slice it, the Mets need to upgrade their rotation and add another sure thing to the mix if they want to be ultra-competitive in 2025. And if they can’t find opportunities to upgrade at a corner infield spot if Alonso goes, it makes even more sense for the Mets to make further upgrades in the run prevention department and buy wins there.

King or Cease would both serve as really good additions, but acquiring Cease would be a home run move and would certainly add an exclamation point on this offseason for the Mets.

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Around the League 🚩

• The Texas Rangers signed RHP Jesse Chavez to a minor league deal with an invite to Major League spring training

• The Baltimore Orioles agreed to terms with free agent OF Dylan Carlson on a one-year contract for the 2025 season

• The Orioles also announced that they are bringing back Adam Jones to the organization as a special adviser and community ambassador

• The Rangers announced the creation of Rangers Sports Network, a club-affiliated entity that will handle all of the franchise’s broadcasting deals