The San Diego Padres are listening on trade offers for right-handers Dylan Cease and Michael King, their top two starting pitchers in 2024, according to multiple reports Thurdsay.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Padres are in active talks with the New York Mets, whose list of available prospects includes Brandon Sproat, Jett Williams and Luisangel Acuña.
More news: Two Teams Tried, Failed to Acquire Luis Robert Jr From White Sox: Report
Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported earlier Thursday that the Cubs have also spoken to the Padres about a possible Cease trade.
The Cubs have spoken with the Padres about Dylan Cease, as I reported on #MLBNHotStove this morning. https://t.co/JGynIJclhY
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 30, 2025
If any deal for Cease or King comes to fruition, Heyman reports the Padres would have space to sign a free agent starting pitcher.
“If the Padres trade either starter,” Heyman wrote Thursday, “they will consider Nick Pivetta or Jack Flaherty.”
Flaherty, 29, is a Southern California native who went 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA for the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers last year.
Starting Game 2 of the National League Division Series for the Dodgers, Flaherty allowed four runs in 5.1 innings as the Padres won, 10-2. Although the Dodgers would fall behind in the best-of-five series before coming back to win the final two games, Flaherty was praised for pitching into the sixth inning of Game 2, giving the Dodgers’ bullpen a necessary breather.
More news: Dodgers’ World Series Starter: ‘Would Be Fun To Go Back’ to Team That Traded Him
After the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in the World Series, Flaherty became a free agent. He has remained unsigned since. The right-hander is 55-41 with a 3.63 ERA in an eight-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, Tigers and Dodgers.
“I’m not going back to L.A. most like — I can do the numbers, do the math,” Flaherty said in a recent appearance on Foul Territory. “It doesn’t bother me. I’m trying to go elsewhere and win and see if we can’t beat those guys.”
More news: Blue Jays to Sign Free Agent Max Scherzer for $15.5 Million: Reports
Pivetta, 31, posted a 4.14 ERA and 1.126 WHIP in 27 appearances for the Boston Red Sox in 2024, including 26 starts. He was tendered — and rejected — a qualifying offer after the season, making him a free agent.
In an eight-year big league career with the Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, Pivetta is 56-71 with a 4.76 ERA. In most cases, the team that signs Pivetta would be forced to surrender a 2025 draft pick as compensation because he rejected the qualifying offer.
More news: Baseball Hall of Famer Pushes Florida City as Possible Rays Relocation Site
“The draft pick is the most important consideration here for Nick Pivetta,” Morosi said. “And for that reason, there are those in the industry who believe that the best fit for him, right now, is going back to Boston because, of course, they would not have to give up a pick to sign back their own player.”
For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
The post Padres Could Deal Starter To Mets, Sign One of Two Free Agents: Report appeared first on Newsweek.
