On July 23, Buster Olney surprised the pitcher trade market, revealing that a new star has emerged in the starting pitcher scene: Dylan Cease. He also mentioned, “Perception of other teams is that the Padres are intent on making a push for the playoffs, and would use Cease to help fill other roster needs. Mets, AL East teams, Cubs among teams that have talked about him.” But now, here is another team waiting for a deal. As the starting pitcher is set to be a free agent, the Houston Astros are taking center stage for the Dylan Cease trade. 

Dylan Cease has been a model of consistency and dominance since the start of the 2021 season. He has led all of Major League Baseball with 151 starts and has been piling up 1,035 strikeouts along the way. That kind of production doesn’t come easily, or cheaply, on the trade market. If the Padres decide to move him, they won’t just be losing a reliable arm. They’ll be creating a major hole in their rotation. Replacing Cease’s innings would be tough enough, but matching his performance? That’s a whole different challenge.

While there’s always the possibility of adding an arm through a trade, it’s doubtful they could land a true upgrade without tapping deep into their limited pool of top prospects. And doing so could compromise the team’s future for a short-term fix. With a 3-9 record and a 4.64 ERA, Cease might not apparently look like a top deal. But his strikeout rate and velocity have increased from last season. Plus, his BA has gone up from .266 to .328 this year. Cease’s hard and soft contacts, and barrels, too, are up a touch. And as per trade rumors, that is the type of pitcher the Cubs might feel interested in.

But the Padres are focusing on adding a new prospect to the team or a replacement for Dylan that will have an impact now. Even though there was a chance of trading Owen Caissie, Cubs President Jed Hoyer has indicated that the team may not deal him for just a two-month rental. However, they can accumulate a package of minor league players to offer to the Padres.

Now, amid all this drama, the Astros have reportedly come up to compete for the star pitcher. With only a day left before the trade deadline ends, The Athletic has reported that he is on the team’s wishlist. But here comes another catch. 

The challenge for the Astros in acquiring Cease might be finding a suitable match with the Padres.  The Padres are only interested in trading the pitcher if they can improve their current major-league roster with immediate impact-ready talent. Unlike typical sellers who might prioritize prospects and long-term value, San Diego remains focused on competing in the present.  

Striking that kind of deal requires both creativity and a willingness to take calculated risks, especially in a tightly contested postseason race. According to Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome of The Athletic, “Acquiring Cease and the remainder of his $13.75 million salary also would almost assure the Astros will cross the luxury tax for a second consecutive season.” 

At last year’s trade deadline, the Astros demonstrated their win-now mentality by acquiring veteran left-hander Yusei Kikuchi from the Toronto Blue Jays. To make the deal happen, Houston sent a package of pitcher Jake Bloss, outfielder Joey Loperfido, and infielder Will Wagner to Toronto. Now, pursuing Dylan Cease would likely require a similar, if not greater, level of commitment from the Astros.

What do the Houston Astros need to do before the trade deadline? 

The current biggest need for the Astros, per Sporting News’ Aaron Raley, is a strong third starting pitcher. They need it to slot in behind Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez in the starting rotation. Luckily for Houston, there are plenty of intriguing options available across both the American and National Leagues as the trade deadline approaches. They don’t need a complete overhaul. 

The Astros have to add just one reliable arm who can consistently deliver quality starts.

The team can plan to keep Jose Altuve in left field for lineup flexibility or defensive reasons. Per experts, it wouldn’t hurt to acquire a solid second baseman to fill the gap in the infield. Addressing both areas could give the Astros the balance they need to make a serious postseason push. 

Reports suggest that general manager Dana Brown plans to actively explore opportunities to improve the roster, with plenty of time still left to make deals before the trade deadline officially closes. The front office understands that this is a pivotal moment in the season, with the team still within striking distance of the division lead and very much in the playoff hunt.

So, do you think the Astros will sign Dylan Cease while the Cubs are also fighting for him?