Here is what a potential trade of Dylan Cease to the Atlanta Braves may look like for the San Diego Padres. 

The San Diego Padres are intent on trading Dylan Cease.

Even though Cease is only making $13.75 million in 2025, the Padres are well aware that they will not be able to sign him long-term.

For San Diego, it may be better just to move the pitcher now and maximize the possible return. Thankfully, there is no shortage of suitors, as Cease would fit nicely on several teams’ rosters for the 2025 season. He would be a rental, but most teams would be willing to acquire the pitcher.

A.J. Preller indicated last week that the Padres would like to add a bat or two to the roster. He also said the team wants to add a pitcher or two before the season starts.

In trading Cease, the Padres want players who are under team control for an extended period. They will probably want a young pitcher to help soften the loss of Dylan Cease. The Padres also have holes in the starting lineup at left field and at the DH position. A multiple player return for Cease may be the best fit for the Padres.

We have already speculated about what a return from the Cubs, Mets, and Orioles may look like. The asking price for the Padres is steep, but where else are playoff-contending teams going to find a pitcher of Cease’s ilk? The answer is nowhere. He may be the best pitcher presently available, and one team will ante up and pay the price. You know it will happen.

In this piece, we will examine the Atlanta Braves, who have been linked to Dylan Cease since the Padres first started taking offers.

Atlanta already has a great starting staff, but you get a sense they would love to add Cease, a native of the area.

The Padres may covet Drake Baldwin, a left-handed hitting catcher. Baldwin is arguably major-league ready, though he has only played 75 games at the Triple-A level. At the moment, Elias Diaz and Luis Campusano are penciled in as the catching duo in San Diego. The Padres also signed Martin Maldonado last month to a minor league contract.

Baldwin owns a .807 career OPS in over 900 minor league at-bats. He has gap power and shows an excellent eye at the plate, recording a .379 OBP in his minor league career. The 23-year-old shows a tremendous upside with the bat. Ethan Salas is waiting in the wings for the Padres, and it remains to be seen if they genuinely covet another catcher to add to the mix.

Pitching is what Atlanta has to offer most to the Padres.

There are several pitchers who have already debuted or are about to debut at the major league level. Ian Anderson leads the way in this regard, as the right-handed pitcher has 52 starts at the major league level under his belt from 2020-2022. Anderson went 22-13 in that time with a 3.97 ERA and a 1.329 WHIP.

In 2023, Anderson underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the whole season. Last season, he pitched solely in the minors, going 3-2 between four levels and throwing 68 innings. Anderson pitched well for the Braves before his injury and threw five no-hit innings against the Houston Astros in 2021, helping the Braves win a World Series title. There is potential here, and the 26-year-old may only be scratching the surface of his ability on the mound.

It is important to note that Anderson is out of minor league options and must make the major league team. He is penciled in at the number five spot in the rotation presently for the Braves.

AJ Smith-Shawver is a pitcher the Padres may be looking at as well. He has some experience in the majors, pitching in seven games over the last two years. The power pitcher has thrown well in the minors, striking out 306 batters in 229 minor-league innings. He owns a 4.50 ERA and a 1.259 WHIP in that time.

Another arm who makes sense for the Padres is Hurston Waldrep.

Waldrep was the Braves first-round pick (24th overall) in 2023 out of Florida. In two minor league seasons, he has thrown 122.2 innings and struck out 138 batters. Waldrep put up a 3.01 ERA in that time and owns a 1.410 WHIP. The Braves may be hesitant to trade their former first-round pick, but the price tag for Cease is steep.

The two teams match up, but it will all come down to the asking price of the Padres. Atlanta may balk at the demand for Cease, but in the end, the team is built to win now, and the addition of Dylan Cease would go a long way for a potentially fruitful year for the Braves.

We will see if anything comes to a head from these two playoff-contending franchises.

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.