If the San Diego Padres fall short on Roki Sasaki and decide to blow it up, here are a few logical Dylan Cease trade landing spots.

Dylan Cease and the San Diego Padres settled his 2025 salary out of arbitration, but don't think it means he is sticking around long term.

With Spring Training only a month away and dozens of free agents still looking for jobs, it seemed like a good time to dive into the inbox and answer some hot stove questions. Some questions have been

Unlike Bogaerts, Arraez and Cronenworth, Cease holds immense trade value. The Padres could demand a significant package while offloading his entire salary. They'd need to weigh that against subtracting arguably their best starter from a rotation that comprises Cease, Michael King , Yu Darvish and a host of question marks.

In San Diego, news that one-man Powerball ticket Roki Sasaki has decided to join the Dodgers was more than a gut punch. It was a steel-toed boot to the shin, a Clydesdale stomp to the foot, a right hook to the jaw. This hurt in all kinds of ways, big and bigger than big.

With the Padres looking to shed payroll, Dylan Cease finds himself on the trade block. So, where could the 29-year-old ace pitch in 2025?

Cease will receive a raise of almost $6 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility. The 29-year-old posted a 3.47 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 224:65 K:BB over 189.1 innings last season and is now entering a contract year.

The San Diego Padres could look to pursue former Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher Jack Flaherty in free agency.

Three-time batting champion Luis Arraez agreed to a $14 million salary and right-hander Dylan Cease agreed to $13.75 million for the 2025 season with the San Diego Padres, MLB.com reported on Thursday.

The Padres offseason plans took a major hit when prized, free agent Roki Sasaki chose to sign with the Dodgers.

So now what? Roki Sasaki was the Padres' Plan A this winter. They hoped desperately to woo the ace Japanese right-hander as an anchor of their starting rotation for years to come. They made that much known from the moment he was posted last month.

The Padres are finalists for Roki Sasaki and they should follow up with these free agents this offseason amid ownership concerns.