Reports suggested that the Orioles had trade interest in , and wrote today that the Os and Padres indeed had some level of discu sion about the right-handers availability. However, it isnt clear if talks have gone anywhere, as Kubatko reports that San Diego checked on some notable Baltimore players who werent on the table, including All-Star infielder and top prospects and . The nature of the trade discu sion arent known, but presumably one of these three wouldve been the headliner of a trade package, with Cease (and David Davidkov Jersey perhaps other players) heading to Baltimore in return. Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller is significant major-league value in exchange for Cease, and it is only natural that Preller would aim high when discu sing perhaps his top trade chip. Landing Westburg would have filled San Diegos second base position for years to come, Mayo couldve become the Padres first baseman of the future and very likely a contributor in 2025, and Basallo projects as a keeper at either first base or catcher. San Diego already has one of the sports top catching prospects in , but further adding to the future depth chart wouldve given the Padres an embarra sment of riches at a notoriously difficult position to fill. For many of these same reasons, the Orioles obviously have no interest in dealing any of this trio. As Kubatko notes, it is particularly unlikely that Baltimore (or perhaps any other team) would trade away premium controllable talent for Cease, who is slated to enter free agency next winter. It should be noted that the Orioles did swing a big trade for a rental pitcher just over a year ago, when the Os moved , , and the 34th overall pick in the 2024 draft (Baltimores Competitive Balance Round selection) to the Brewers in exchange for . That trade package has been suggested by many as a po sible comp for what the Padres might realistically hope to land in a Cease deal, though the fact that the Orioles already depleted their minor league depth for Burnes might make them unlikely to make another splurge for a pitcher with one year of control. The Twins, Mets, Cubs, and Red Sox are among the teams who have also been linked to Ceases trade market at various points this winter, though reports have suggested that and are unable or unwilling to meet the Padres demands. The Red Sox already dealt away some noteworthy young talent to obtain from the White Sox, and might not want to move even more players to also add Cease. With several weeks to go before Opening Day, it is certainly still po sible any of these teams or the Orioles could re-emerge as po sible trade partners, should the Padres lower their asking price. On the flip side, pitching injuries in Spring Training might well bring some new teams into the mix, perhaps with some increased desperation that would make them more willing to cough up a bigger trade package that would come closer to meeting San Diegos needs. Since Burnes was entering free agency and ultimately headed to the Diamondbacks, an ace pitcher was widely seen as perhaps the top need on Baltimores offseason checklist. While the Os were known to have at least had some talks about some top free agents or trade targets, the club instead made more moderate pitching adds, signing and to one-year contracts. Sugano and Morton join , , and as the Orioles projected starting five, with working as a swingman in the bullpen, and the likes of , , and at Triple-A as further depth options. With and also hoping to make late-season returns from UCL surgeries last season, the Orioles might end up having a surplus of rotation options if everyone is healthy. In theory, it would make sense if the Os offered one of the younger big league-ready arms as part of a Cease trade, as the Padres could then use that pitcher to take Ceases spot in their own rotation. But, with Eflin, Morton, and Sugano all free agents next winter, Baltimore surely hopes to dip into its depth to reload what might be a very different-looking rotation in 2026. Manny Rugamba Jersey