At some point during the 2025 season, the Atlanta Braves are going to make their move.
It was a quiet offseason for the Braves, though their one big signing (outfielder Jurickson Profar) has the potential to pay off handsomely. Based on his track record, president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos has to simply be biding his time before the big trade.
If there’s any roster area that seems primed for a trade upgrade in Atlanta, it’s starting pitching. There’s the possibility for a fantastic one through four in the Braves’ rotation, but depth could be an issue all year, especially in the case of injury.
Meanwhile, there’s an Atlanta area native who could be on the trade block during the season that seems like an ideal fit for the Braves.
On Friday, Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer named San Diego Padres starter Dylan Cease as a top 10 “most likely” trade candidate for the 2025 season, while calling the Braves a top potential fit for the fourth-place Cy Young Award finisher.
“After being at the center of rumors for basically the entire winter, it feels like a small miracle that Dylan Cease is still on the Padres,” Rymer wrote. “This could still change, and perhaps soon enough to result in Cease being at the center of a spring training trade for the second time in as many years.
“As with (fellow Padres starter Michael) King, the price to acquire Cease will likely consist of multiple controllable players if the Padres end up putting him out there. Potential Landing Spots: Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves.”
Cease, 29, had a 3.47 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 189 2/3 innings last season. He’s the only pitcher in the majors with at least 200 strikeouts in each of the last four seasons, and he’s finished top-five in Cy Young voting in two of the last three years.
A free agent after the season, Cease is making $13.75 million in arbitration. The Braves could look to keep him around long-term on what is likely to be a nine-figure contract, but there’s also some rationale behind acquiring him as a rental at the deadline to go all-in on 2025.
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