The abrupt end of your postseason life leaves little time for teams to formally say goodbye and thank the fans for their support. Instead of preparing for an opponent, the players are clearing out their lockers
and getting ready for an unexpected start to the offseason.
Dylan Cease is entering the unknown void of baseball free agency. Cease has no clue where he will be playing baseball next season. But he is expected to garner plenty of attention from other clubs, despite his rollercoaster ride in 2024.
I am confident to say that Cease has played his last game as a San Diego Padre.
Cease was pivotal to the 2024 Padres’ success
The Friars acquired Cease in a trade with the Chicago White Sox before the start of the 2024 season. It did not take long for him to become acclimated with his new teammates. He arrived in Seoul, South Korea as the Padres were opening the season overseas against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cease seemed like a natural fit inside the clubhouse.
The right-hander was never better, as Cease recorded a 14-11 record with a 3.47 ERA in 33 starts. The Friars were in the market for a starting pitcher known for his incredible velocity. Cease averaged 223 strikeouts for his seven-year major league career, and he did not disappoint with 224 punchouts in his first season with the Padres.
2024 was a magical season for him, as he threw the franchise’s second no-hitter. Cease transformed from a top starter on a struggling team into a mainstay of the Friars’ rotation, helping them secure a postseason berth.
What a difference a year makes
Unfortunately, 2025 was a different story. Cease never seemed to relax on the mound, as it was a challenge for him to throw strikes. His walk total jumped from 65 base-on-balls in 2024 to 71 walks this past season. The increased number of base runners saw Cease’s run total climb from 80 to 91 this year.
He could never find any consistency from one start to another, as the Friar Faithful grew frustrated with each disappointing outing. His 2024 comfort zone did not reappear this season. A typical bad inning for Cease begins with a groundball single, a double down the line, and a walk. Suddenly, the bases are loaded and become an omen of bad things to come.
Cease finished with an 8-12 record and a 4.51 ERA in 32 starts. His final stats are alarming, as opponents’ slugging percentage rose to .399 from .332 in 2024. Opposing hitters batted .239 against Cease, which is up from a .200 BA from a year ago. The lone bright spot was his 29.8 strikeout rate, Cease’s highest percentage since 2022.
He is entering free agency with a lot of questions about his season-long pitching slump. The dominance from a season ago has disappeared, with no clues of its whereabouts. It is likely the reason why the Friars will move on from him this Winter.
