The San Diego Padres made big news on Thursday when they acquired RHP Dylan Cease from the White Sox for a package of four prospects, three of which have played for the Lake Elsinore Storm. Cease has struck out more than 200 batters each of the last three years and went 14-8 in 2022 with a 1.11 whip as opposing batters hit .190 against him. The 28-year old slots in at the front of the Padres’ rotation as they try to close the gap with the Dodgers and last year’s NL champions, the Diamondbacks.
The value of top prospects isn’t just in the possibility of having them produce for the major league team. They can be leveraged for immediate help by acquiring a proven major leaguer such as Cease for an area of need. With 2023 Cy Young award-winner Blake Snell out on the open market, the Padres have filled such a need.
In exchange for Cease, the Padres reached into their deep farm system and flipped three of their top 10 prospects, per MLB Pipeline.
RHP Drew Thorpe had just been acquired from the Yankees in the Juan Soto trade, and San Diego sent him to Chicago in this deal.
Also going to the South Side are three former Lake Elsinore Storm players.
SAMUEL ZAVALA – A left-handed hitting outfielder, Zavala played 134 games with Lake Elsinore over 2022 and 2023. Last season he slashed .267/.420/.451 with 14 homers. He was the Padres’ #7 prospect.
JAIRO IRIARTE – RHP Iriarte appeared in 21 games for the Storm in 2022, striking out 109 in 91 1/3 innings. Last year he finished at AA and was San Diego’s #8 prospect.
STEVEN WILSON – A RHP, Wilson has pitched for the Padres in each of the last three season, making 22 appearances and posting a 1.19 ERA over 22 2/3 innings. He finished 2018 pitching in two games for Lake Elsinore and then went 2-0 in 17 games in 2019 before being promoted to AAA El Paso.
