July 31: Cease remains with Padres as Deadline passes; will be free agent at end of 2025 A pending free agent, Cease's status was perhaps the most hotly debated subject in the Padres' front office in the weeks leading up to the Trade Deadline on July 31. Despite much speculation, the right-hander ended up staying with San Diego.

Last week, Buster Olney of ESPN reported the Padres were making Cease available in trade talks with rival teams. Joel Sherman of the New York Post subsequently identified six teams that have inquired about Cease: the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets and Chicago Cubs.