The New York Mets have a strong roster heading into the 2025 MLB season. However, a prominent MLB insider believes if they really want to be a World Series contender this year they have to make a trade for Dylan Cease sooner than later.
This was an important offseason for the Mets. In stunning the baseball world by reaching the NLCS in October, the roster showed they were not far from being able to win a championship. So the front office was tasked with no only addressing the holes in their roster but also improving the team for 2025.
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And for the most part, the club did that. They filled their openings in the rotation by adding some intriguing arms and re-signing fan-favorite Sean Manaea. They also brought back some bullpen veterans and added Atlanta Braves veteran AJ Minter.
However, the biggest moves of the fall/winter were re-signing homegrown All-Star Pete Alonso, and winning the Juan Soto sweepstakes with a record-shattering $765 million offer. The roster is ready for the new season. But there have been recent rumblings about New York making a trade for talented San Diego Padres starter Dylan Cease. Unfortunately, recent rumors have revealed the asking price is much too high.
Nevertheless, in a new column this week, New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman explained why the 29-year-old is worth a big return for the team.
- Dylan Cease stats (2024): 14-11 record, 3.47 ERA, 1.067 WHIP, 224 strikeouts, 189.1 innings pitched
Should the New York Mets overpay to complete Dylan Cease trade?
“Cease is as reliable as he is talented. He led the league in games started three of the past four years. And he came one strikeout short of National League leader Chris Sale last year, with 224 strikeouts,” Heyman wrote. “…While the Mets may now have the best lineup in the game the rotation that’s arrived here looks decidedly middle-rung.
“If they want to avoid being knocked out again by the impossibly good Dodgers, the Mets rotation needs a serious upgrade. And what’s another $13.75 million — Cease’s contract actually will cost $28.875 million considering the 110 percent Steve Cohen tax — for a team that’s already in for $322 million?”
- Dylan Cease contract (Arbitration): One year, $13.7 million
Heyman did add that while Padres ownership wants the front office to slash payroll ASAP, general AJ Preller won’t give up a top arm easily. Furthermore, the Chicago Cubs are an even greater threat to pursue Cease after failing to land Alex Bregman this week.
Putting Cease at the top of the rotation with Kodai Senga would certainly give the New York Mets a better chance of competing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025.
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