Padres receive: LHP Jordan Wicks, RHP Javier Assad, 2B/OF James Triantos (CHC No. 5 prospect), 1B/3B/OF Jonathan Long (CHC No. 13 prospect)
This deal would bring San Diego two starting pitchers under team control for at least two years, a Top 100 prospect, and a versatile corner position/outfield utility man for Cease, who has just one year left on his contract. For the Cubs, it would provide another front-line starting pitcher to join left-handers Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele at the top of the rotation. While Cease’s single year of control may reduce the return a bit, had he been under contract for two or three years, the Padres could have potentially received another Top 100 prospect.
Cease was originally drafted in the sixth round by the Cubs in 2014. In 2018, he and outfield prospect Eloy Jimenez were traded to the Chicago White Sox for left-hander Jose Quintana, and while Quintana’s Cubs tenure didn’t unfold as hoped, the White Sox were clear winners of that deal. Now, seven years later, the Cubs could bring Cease back to where his career began, potentially forming a top-tier rotation with Imanaga, Steele, and Cease. This trio could make the Cubs favorites to win the NL Central for the first time since 2020.
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