The San Diego Padres have decisions to make as the Trade Deadline approaches.
Padres Receive Big News Amid Dylan Cease Trade Rumors originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
All MLB teams have to deal with injuries, but the San Diego Padres are hanging on to the third NL Wild Card spot despite multiple challenges on the starting pitching front.
Right-hander Michael King (4-2, 2.59 ERA) hasn't pitched since May 18 due to a shoulder injury. On top of that, fellow right-hander Dylan Cease (3-10, 4.79 ERA) is having one of the worst seasons of his career.
The latter player is all over the rumor mill as Thursday's Trade Deadline approaches. The Houston Astros consider him a "primary trade target," via The Athletic's Chandler Rome.
However, San Diego received exciting news regarding its starting rotation on Tuesday, via The San Diego Union-Tribune's Jeff Sanders.
King will go on a Triple-A rehab assignment on Saturday or Sunday.
The 30-year-old could slide into Cease's spot in the rotation if the Padres deal the latter player. King went 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA across 31 starts in his first season with San Diego last year. The club acquired him from the New York Yankees in December 2023 as part of a package for Juan Soto.
Michael King looking at a rehab assignment on Saturday or Sunday with @epchihuahuas.
— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) July 29, 2025
Meanwhile, Cease went 14-11 with a 3.47 ERA across 33 starts last season, also his first with the Padres. They acquired the veteran from the Chicago White Sox in March 2024.
San Diego will host the New York Mets on Tuesday night. Right-hander Ryan Bergert (10-, 2.84 ERA) will start for the Padres against Mets southpaw Sean Manaea (1-1, 2.19 ERA).
Related: Padres Predicted to Make Trade After Jason Heyward News
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
