Dylan Cease Trade: Scouting Reports On Every Padres, White Sox Player Involved
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Padres GM A.J. Preller is not one to let a top talent go elsewhere in a trade. In yet another big swing from a team that has taken many of them over the past five years, San Diego agreed to send four players to the White Sox to land frontline starter Dylan Cease and plug a hole in the rotation left by free agent lefty Blake Snell.
PADRES RECEIVE
Dylan Cease, RHP
Age: 28
At his best, Cease is a dominant starter. He finished second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2022 when he went 14-8, 2.20. Although he missed time in the minor leagues with Tommy John surgery, as a major leaguer he’s been quite durable, leading the American League in games started in 2021 and 2023.
This is the second time Cease has been traded. He was dealt with Eloy Jimenez from the Cubs to the White Sox in 2017 for lefthander Jose Quintana.
WHITE SOX RECEIVE
Drew Thorpe, RHP
Age: 23
In just one offseason, Thorpe, whom the Yankees chose out of Cal Poly in 2022, has been traded twice. First, he went from New York to San Diego in the deal that sent Juan Soto to the Bronx. Just a few months later, he’s on the move again. He’s coveted in large part because of one of the best changeups in the minor leagues, a pitch that helped him rack up a minor league-best 182 strikeouts in 2023, the highest total by a Yankees farmhand since 2002. Thorpe, who has been excellent this spring, backs the changeup with a low-90s fastball, an average slider and a below-average curveball. He’d also been toying with a cutter in the midst of the 2023 season. He finished last year in Double-A and could see the big leagues in 2024. Thorpe ranks No. 58 on the Baseball America Top 100 Prospects.
Samuel Zavala, OF
Age: 19
Like many Padres prospects, Zavala has been aggressively moved through the minors throughout his career. Case in point, he was the third-youngest player in the Low-A California League on Opening Day 2023 but not even the youngest player on his own Lake Elsinore squad. Zavala spent the year putting together an outstanding season, including 22 doubles and 20 stolen bases to go with 14 home runs. He struggled upon reaching High-A, though he was dealing with an injured oblique. At his best, Zavala has quick swing with plenty of barrel accuracy. If he can get stronger, he could reach at least average power. Zavala earns above-average marks for his speed, defense and throwing arm and can handle center field in the long run. He ranked No. 7 on the Padres Preseason Top 30.
Jairo Iriarte, RHP
Age: 22
When he signed, Iriarte was lauded for his combination of stuff and projection. He’s added roughly 50 pounds since then, proving the latter correct. The stuff has been boosted as well, and he now brings his fastball consistently into the mid 90s. The heater is buttressed by a double dose of offspeeds that includes a nasty slider and a changeup that is a touch on the firm side but could get to at least above-average with further refinement. Iriarte’s fringy control could lead to a bullpen role, but he’ll have plenty of time to improve and fight for a spot in the rotation in the years to come. He reached Double-A in 2023 and whiffed more than 40% of the hitters he faced. Iriarte ranked No. 9 in San Diego’s system.
Steven Wilson, RHP
Age: 29
Wilson is an established big leaguer who will plug right into Chicago’s bullpen. He mostly mixes a four-seamer in the mid 90s with a low-80s sweeping slider but will also sprinkle in a changeup as well. He also threw six cutters in 2023. Wilson’s control needs work, but he should ably and immediately handle relief duties for the White Sox
