Few teams are as motivated as a Padres club that pulled off multiple pre-June blockbusters and now faces a possible deficit of starting pitching. The discussions that led up to the Cease trade could help facilitate a second exchange
with the White Sox. But, for now, no agreement between the two sides is considered imminent. It remains to be seen if the Padres have the right players to close another aggressive deal.
The White Sox, led by first-year general manager Chris Getz, are poised to carry out the sell-off that they started when they sent Cease to San Diego. Before the July 30 trade deadline, reliever Michael Kopech, starting pitcher
Erick Fedde, and outfielders Tommy Pham and Luis Robert Jr. are among the players that could be moved. A 2023 All-Star, Robert’s salary is expected to be $12.5 million this year, $15 million in 2025, and $20 million in club
options for 2026 and 2027. Due to his salary, he is not as marketable as Crochet, who has reportedly attracted interest from a number of rival teams, according to league sources.
