Surprising Starter Pitcher Being Floated In Trade Talks

Supply and demand is the name of the game during trade deadline season. The fewer players available, the higher the cost. With expanded playoffs, there have been fewer teams willing to sell at the deadline, which has increased the cost of making a big splash.

The Boston Red Sox are in the market for starting pitching, and another intriguing option might be entering the market. According to Buster Olney, the San Diego Padres are considering using Dylan Cease to improve the team in other areas. Olney mentioned adding Charlie Morton as a replacement for Cease and using Cease to supplement the roster elsewhere.

Cease has thrown 108 2/3 innings this season and registered a 4.64 ERA. It’s a down year from his standards, though his stuff is as good as ever.

Cease primarily uses a two-pitch mix: a four-seam fastball and a slider. His fastball is hard at 97 mph and shows good vertical movement. Hitters swing and miss frequently as they struggle to lay off high heaters. His slider is similar. It shows good velocity at 89 mph, generates chases and creates whiffs.

The knock on Cease is his command. He doesn’t walk hitters frequently, but tends to throw non-competitive pitches, allowing hitters to zero in on pitches in the strike zone. He’s prone to blow-up outings as a result, but dominates at times as well.

His batting average on balls in play is also high, which suggests some positive regression. On the other hand, his tendency to pitch up in the zone leads to fly balls, which might not play well in Fenway Park.

The righty also hasn’t been a great playoff performer. He has four career appearances with a 12.91 ERA. Last season, he started two games against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series and allowed eight runs over five innings.

Cease is a free agent after the season, which should limit the return required to complete a trade. He’s making $13.75 million this season. The Red Sox are well below the luxury tax threshold after trading Rafael Devers and his entire contract to the San Francisco Giants.