Chicago Cubs Could Land Starting Pitcher Dylan Cease

Right-handed starting pitcher, Dylan Cease, is among the highest ranked pitchers in the current Major League Baseball free agent market.

This old scout believes Cease will return to the team that drafted him-the Chicago Cubs.

Cease, who turns 30 December 28, could fetch a six-year contract with an annual value of $30.8M.

It would not be surprising to learn that Cease signs for at least $185M, especially with the free agent market for starting pitchers being relatively thin.

Cease declined a $22.025M qualifying offer from the San Diego Padres, the team he has pitched for the past two seasons.

Even though 2025 wasn’t the best season for Cease, he should still command a pitcher-friendly contract from teams hungry to bolster their starting rotation.

Cease completed his second season in San Diego with a record of 8-12, an ERA of 4.55, and a 1.32 WHIP in 32 starts, covering 168 innings.

Cease yielded the highest number of home runs in his career in 2025, giving up 21 homers, or one more than his 2021 season.

A high volume strikeout pitcher, Cease struck out an average of 11.5 hitters per nine innings last season.

In his best season, which was 2021, Cease struck out an average of 12.3 hitters per nine innings, on his way to a 13-7 record for the White Sox.

The last time Cease threw less than 170 innings was 2021, when he registered 165.2 innings for the Chicago White Sox.

While he is strong and durable, Cease has a tendency to lose command and control at points during a game.

About Dylan Cease:

Dylan Cease was a 6th round pick of the Chicago Cubs in the 2014 MLB draft. He was chosen out of Milton High School in Milton, Georgia,

Even though Cease had Tommy John surgery in high school, the Cubs still gave
Cease a $1.5M signing bonus.

The MLB recommended signing bonus for Cease’s 6th round slot was $289,500, which illustrated how much the Cubs valued Cease.

MLB teams were aware of Cease’s upside, but the surgery lowered his draft status. The Cubs still took a chance.

Cease never pitched in the big leagues for the Cubs. They traded him across town to the Chicago White Sox on July 13, 2017.

At the age of 23, Cease made his debut with the White Sox, going five innings, and getting the win against the Detroit Tigers on July 3, 2019.

In parts of seven seasons on major league mounds, Cease has compiled a 65-58 record, with a composite ERA of 3.88, and a 1.26 WHIP in 188 starts, covering 1,015.1 innings.

Cease threw a no-hitter for the Padres against the Washington Nationals on July 25, 2024.

Repertoire for Dylan Cease

brooksbaseball.net indicates that Cease threw his four-seam fastball at 97.77 miles per hour last October. His “bread and butter” pitch, Cease uses the four-seam 47.83% of the time.

Cease also throws a wicked slider. Using the pitch 39.13% of the time, Cease’s slider hits an average of 89.7 miles per hour.

Changing the eye level and balance of the hitter, Cease also throws a sinking fastball, and a sharp curve.

The fastball/slider combination sets up the curve as a potential swing and miss pitch later in counts.

Suitors for Dylan Cease:

Houston Astros- tried to trade for Cease at the trade deadline, and they could lose starter Framber Valdez.

Phillies-could lose Ranger Suarez, and Cease might be appealing

Mets-have the money and the need for a quality starter

Giants-they have the financial recourses, and are looking to upgrade their pitching

Orioles-would like to add a starter, especially since the trade of Grayson Rodriguez to the Rangers

Cubs-returning to the team that drafted him makes great sense. Will they pay the price?

Prediction:

Chicago Cubs

Summary:

Dylan Cease is highly valued as a quality right-handed starting pitcher.

He is young enough to command a six-year contract.

Never an All Star, but unusually reliable, Cease can be the “missing link” to a stable rotation in need of one more solid starter.

For this old scout, the winning team will have to be willing to watch periods when Cease loses command and starts going way too deep in counts far too many times.

Basically, a team that can pick Cease up after the 6th inning with a quality bullpen would be ideal.