Padres asking price for Dylan Cease revealed after near-trade with Astros

One of the things that can be counted on at nearly every trade deadline is that A.J. Preller will have the San Diego Padres involved in wild trade talks and rumors. After landing Mason Miller from the Athletics and swinging two other deals to bolster the offense, Preller was on the cusp of making another move, this time, trading a player away.

But, despite getting into deep trade talks with the Houston Astros about trading Dylan Cease, the two sides couldn't agree to a deal. After the deadline, Bob Nightengale of USA Today revealed the Padres' asking price, which was the reason for the deal not going through.

The San Diego Padres, who were talking to the Houston Astros about starter Dylan Cease as the deadline expired, were asking for starter Spencer Arrighetti and three prospects in return.
The Astros declined.
Cease remains a Padre.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 31, 2025

The Padres had asked for three prospects along with Astros starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti. Preller's demands for Cease were too much for the Astros, and a deal wasn't completed at the deadline.

Arrighetti is a 25-year-old starting pitcher who is under team control through the 2029 season. He had a 4.53 ERA in 2024 during his rookie year, and while he's started just two games this season with a 5.59 ERA, Arrighetti is a valuable player.

Moving on from him wouldn't be easy for the Astros, and with Cease, who's a free agent after the 2025 season, it was too much for the Astros to give up for less than half a season of Cease.

MORE: Padres pull off blockbuster trade for Athletics' Mason Miller

Cease has struggled a bit this season. Despite being fourth in MLB in strikeouts with 153, Cease has a 3-10 record and a 4.79 ERA in his 22 starts. Over the last two seasons in San Diego, Cease has a 3.98 ERA, and while he's flashed at times, his struggles didn't help convince the Astros to agree to the blockbuster deal.

San Diego didn't swing the Cease trade, as the Astros saw the Padres' asking price as too much. While Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported that a Cease to Houston trade was "progressing," a deal never came to fruition.

Cease to Houston is progressing. Astros might get a reliever, too if deal can be completed https://t.co/Bi9mqBHPlz

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2025

Cease stays in San Diego, and the rotation looks very promising for the remainder of the season. Cease, Yu Darvish, Nick Pivetta, Michael King (once healthy), Randy Vasquez, and J.P. Sears make up a solid starting rotation for a postseason run. 

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