The trade talk surrounding Chicago White Sox right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease has intensified, with recent discussions taking place between the White Sox and the San Diego Padres. MLB Network's Jon Morosi reports that the Padres have joined the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers as teams prominently linked to Cease in the ongoing trade talks.

Cease, the 2022 AL Cy Young runner-up, has garnered both praise and scrutiny. At 28 years old, he is an affordable player with two years of team control, making $8 million in 2023 and eligible for arbitration in 2025. Despite an impressive second-place finish in the Cy Young race in 2022, Cease struggled with a 4.58 ERA in 2023. However, his overall performance over the past three seasons, including a career-best campaign in 2022, showcases his potential as a playoff-caliber starter.

Although Cease has faced command issues throughout his career, he has accumulated 109 starts since his first full season in 2020, making him a durable power pitcher. The Padres, who have only secured three starters in Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish, and newly acquired Michael King, would greatly benefit from adding Cease to their rotation. This move would solidify their top four spots in the rotation, providing a more robust lineup and reducing the reliance on inexperienced pitchers for the final slot.

In terms of financial suitability, Cease's affordable contract makes him an enticing prospect for the Padres, who have been focused on managing their budget this offseason. With a payroll reduced by nearly $100 million, the Padres have been exploring options to improve their roster while staying clear of the luxury-tax threshold. Cease's $8 million salary would keep them comfortably below the threshold, allowing them room to potentially pursue another free agent outfielder, such as Adam Duvall, Michael A. Taylor, or Tommy Pham.

The Padres, who boast one of the top six farm systems in MLB according to various rankings, have a strong group of prospects that could pique the interest of the White Sox. While top prospects like Jackson Merrill and Ethan Salas are likely untouchable, the Padres possess several other highly regarded players and near-MLB-ready talents that could facilitate a potential trade for Cease.

As talks progress, it remains to be seen whether a deal will ultimately be struck between the Padres and the White Sox. However, the Padres' pursuit of Cease aligns with their commitment to fielding a competitive team, despite their recent cost-cutting endeavors. For the White Sox, a potential trade could provide them with an opportunity to add to their farm system and address other roster needs. Only time will tell if these discussions will result in a significant trade in the near future.