REPORT: Mets Would Swap 2 Top 5 Prospects to Land $14 Million Ace in Trade Prediction

After three months of sitting on the open market, first baseman Pete Alonso is finally back with the New York Mets. Does that put a bow on an impressive offseason for the club or could president of baseball David Stearns operations target San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease in a trade?

The Mets have been linked to Cease at various times this winter. San Diego acquired him last offseason and watched him post a 14-11 record with a 3.47 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 189 1/3 innings during the 2024 campaign.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease — SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 09: Dylan Cease #84 of the San Diego Padres pitches in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game Four of the Division Series at Petco Park on… Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Re-signing Alonso negates the need for New York to use internal options to replace the Polar Bear’s production at first base, so that opens the possibility of a trade. What might a trade look like to bring Cease to Queens?

Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer put together the following hypothetical swap:

Mets receive: starting pitcher Dylan Cease
Padres receive: right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat and outfielder Drew Gilbert

“This package would be difficult for the Mets to part with, but such boldness is arguably necessary if they want to keep up with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the broader NL race,” Rymer wrote.

MLB.com ranks Sproat (first) and Gilbert (third) within the organization’s top five prospects. Cease is only due $13.75 million in 2025, which is a cost the Mets could easily afford to create a formidable trio with Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga.

However, he’s due to hit free agency next winter. Spotrac has tabbed Cease’s current market value for a long-term deal at five years and $109 million.