The San Diego Padres are off to a phenomenal start in 2025, boasting a 14-3 record—the best in Major League Baseball—and leading the NL West. The San Francisco Giants trail closely behind at 12-4, with the Los Angeles Dodgers sitting in third at 12-6.
Despite their red-hot performance, it’s never too early to look ahead. Once the season wraps up, the Padres will face some major roster decisions.
One of the most significant revolves around starting pitcher Dylan Cease, who is set to hit free agency after this season. According to Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors, Cease is expected to command a hefty contract.
“With a strong season, Cease will have the best shot at cracking $200MM of any pitcher on this list,” Adams noted. “He should command at least six years, with a good chance at seven and an outside possibility of eight.”
Since debuting in 2019, Cease has built a solid résumé, starting 160 games and logging 867.2 innings. Over that span, he’s recorded a 3.82 ERA, a 111 ERA+, a 1.259 WHIP, 1,040 strikeouts, and accumulated 15.2 WAR. He’s also twice finished in the top five for the Cy Young and cracked the top 25 in MVP voting on two occasions—clearly establishing himself as a premier talent.
However, with the Padres already carrying a $209.3 million payroll—ninth highest in the league—it remains uncertain whether they’re willing to shell out that kind of money.
Adding to the complexity, fellow starting pitcher Michael King is scheduled to reach free agency after the 2026 season. Spotrac projects his value at around four years and $71.2 million.
The Padres could soon be faced with a tough decision—choosing between two quality arms, and possibly leaning toward the more cost-effective option in King.
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