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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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The San Diego Padres were among the most active teams leading up to the MLB trade deadline but couldn't consummate a trade involving ace right-hander Dylan Cease — though not for lack of effort.
According to multiple reports Thursday, Cease will stay put after a flurry of moves saw the Padres acquire Nestor Cortes, Mason Miller, Freddy Fermin, Ryan O'Hearn and Ramon Laureano to boost their chances in the National League playoff hunt.
More news: Orioles Make Trade Sending Multiple Players, Including All-Star, to Padres
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Cease is 3-10 with a 4.79 ERA across 118.1 innings this season. His expected ERA (3.54) suggests the right-hander has been the victim of bad luck, though his walk rate (9.2 percent) and average exit velocity allowed (89.0 mph) are trending in the wrong direction compared to last season.
Still, Cease is one of the most durable starters in baseball who has two Top-5 Cy Young Award finishes on his resume. Since the beginning of the 2021 season, Cease leads MLB with 151 starts and 1,035 strikeouts.
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Padres general manager AJ Preller had reportedly been discussing a trade that would send Cease to the Houston Astros. But, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, the trade never got over the finish line despite "picking up steam" at times.
The Padres made trades involving 21 players leading up to the 6 p.m. ET deadline. Cease, remarkably, stayed put.
More news: Orioles Make Trade Sending Multiple Players, Including All-Star, to Padres
Now, the Padres will move forward with a 60-49 record — second in the National League West and third in the NL Wild Card chase — and the best bullpen in baseball.
Miller joins closer Robert Suarez, right-hander Jason Adam, and left-hander Adrian Morejon to form a unit that could potentially turn the fifth through ninth innings into an effort in futility for opponents. All four pitchers were All-Stars this season.
More news: Padres Acquire Veteran Catcher From Royals at MLB Trade Deadline: Reports
Cease remains in a Padres rotation that lost Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert in the Fermin trade, but gained Cortes in the deal that sent Brandon Lockridge to Milwaukee, and JP Sears in the Miller trade.
Yu Darvish, Nick Pivetta round out the Padres' five-man group. Right-hander Michael King is currently rehabbing a shoulder injury but will give the Padres necessary insurance once he returns.
Added together, the moves made the Padres one of the most interesting teams to watch at a busy trade deadline that significantly altered the MLB landscape.
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