Report: Padres listening on Cease, have interest in Morton, Alcantara
The San Diego Padres might be open to trading one of their most important arms.
San Diego, though currently in a playoff spot, is listening to offers for right-hander Dylan Cease, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Although the likelihood of a Cease deal remains low, the Padres are open to the possibility because he's a pending free agent and would therefore be a rental for any team that acquires him, according to Heyman.
The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, and Boston Red Sox are among the teams believed to have checked in about Cease's availability, according to Heyman.
The Padres still appear to be intent on buying and making a push for the playoffs, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. It's possible that they're considering using a potential Cease trade to augment other areas of the roster and then adding more pitching elsewhere.
To that end, San Diego has spoken to the Baltimore Orioles about veteran right-hander Charlie Morton, Olney reports. The team also has interest in Miami Marlins star and former NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, sources told Dennis Lin of The Athletic.
Cease, who started and lost Wednesday's series finale against the Miami Marlins, has spent the last two seasons in San Diego after being acquired in the spring of 2024. The 29-year-old finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting and threw a no-hitter last season, but owns a career-high 4.59 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 21 starts in 2025.
Still, Cease remains one of the game's best strikeout artists - his 144 Ks and 11.4 K/9 rate both place second in the NL.
Morton, 41, is apparently drawing San Diego's interest despite his dismal campaign in Baltimore. He owns a 5.58 ERA, 4.58 FIP, and 1.57 WHIP along with a 4.2 BB/9 rate over 88 2/3 innings, and was demoted to the bullpen earlier this season.
However, the 18-year veteran has been pitching better in recent weeks. Since returning to Baltimore's rotation on May 26, Morton owns a far more respectable 3.78 ERA and 3.45 FIP with 52 strikeouts and just four home runs allowed.
Alcantara, who beat the Padres Wednesday in what could have been his final start for the Marlins, owns a 6.66 ERA with 77 strikeouts and 39 walks over 104 innings. He's earning $17 million this year and next, and would also come with a $21-million club option or $2-million buyout for 2027.
Wednesday's loss dropped the Padres to 55-47, although they still hold a 1.5-game lead on the rival San Francisco Giants for the final NL wild-card spot.