MLB Rumors: Dylan Cease Trade Eyed by Red Sox; Team Doing 'Due Diligence'

The Boston Red Sox may not be done upgrading the roster this winter.

With the high-profile signing of Alex Bregman and the trade to land star pitcher Garrett Crochet, the Red Sox made clear their intention to return to contender status in 2025. But the team may have another trade in the works.

According to Sean McAdam of MassLive.com, "An industry source confirmed the Red Sox have been in touch with the San Diego Padres about starting pitcher Dylan Cease, who is being shopped around this spring. That same source cautioned that, to date at least, the interest from the Red Sox has been closer to 'due diligence' level than it is to aggressive pursuit. But for a pitcher the quality of Cease, the Red Sox at least want to monitor the market."

Manager Alex Cora indicated on Saturday that the Red Sox weren't done addressing the roster.

"We talked about winning the last few years, a thing that we haven't done,” he told reporters. “I think the front office talked—we talked as an organization at the end of the season last year, and [concluded] we need to be more aggressive in the offseason and execute. So far, we've done a good job. We haven't stopped, though. We aren't done yet, we're still trying to improve the roster which is the most important thing. I think the guys in the clubhouse, they understand that."

Cease would be another splashy addition.

The 29-year-old bounced back nicely in 2024 with the Padres after a somewhat disappointing 2023 campaign (4.58 ERA, 1.41 WHIP), finishing 14-11 with a 3.47 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 224 strikeouts in 189.1 innings.

He continues to be a pitcher who misses bats at a high level, with 200 or more strikeouts in four straight seasons.

The Red Sox already addressed the pitching staff this offseason, adding Crochet—a converted starter who had a 3.58 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 208 strikeouts for the Chicago White Sox last season— Walker Buehler and Patrick Sandoval to the rotation and Aroldis Chapman to the bullpen.

A top three of Crochet, Cease and Tanner Houck would be strong, with Buehler, Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito and Kutter Crawford left to battle for the final two spots (and eventually Sandoval down the line when he returns after having Tommy John surgery).

It remains to be seen if the Sox will engage in a full pursuit of Cease, with the rotation in a pretty good place either way. It also remains to be seen if San Diego will actually deal him, with Dennis Lin of The Athletic reporting last week that the Padres are "inclined to hang on to Cease, a pending free agent, and enter the upcoming season with a rotation led by Cease, Michael King, Yu Darvish and Nick Pivetta."

But given how strong both the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles look atop the division, Boston couldn't be blamed for keeping their foot on the gas pedal this winter and pursuing Cease if he's made available.