Socal Bound

Cease Deal

SoCal Bound

Padres, White Sox Make Offseason's Final Splash

The San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox have agreed to a blockbuster trade that sends right-hander Dylan Cease to San Diego, the Padres announced late Wednesday.

The Padres acquired Cease, a key piece of the White Sox's rotation, in exchange for a package of prospects that includes Drew Thorpe, Jairo Iriarte, Samuel Zavala, and Steven Wilson.

The White Sox were reportedly seeking a significant return for Cease, who is entering his fourth full season in the majors and has established himself as one of the most promising young pitchers in the game.

The Padres, meanwhile, were desperate for starting pitching after losing Mike Clevinger to Tommy John surgery and seeing Blake Snell struggle in 2022.

The deal is a major win for both teams. The Padres land a young, cost-controlled ace who can immediately slot into their rotation and help them compete for a World Series title. The White Sox, meanwhile, add a deep and talented group of prospects who can help them rebuild their farm system.

The trade is also a sign that the MLB offseason is finally coming to a close. With less than two weeks to go before the start of the regular season, most teams have filled their major needs and are now focusing on minor tweaks to their rosters.

The Padres and White Sox were the two biggest players in the trade market this offseason, and their blockbuster deal is a fitting end to a wild winter.