Padres Reportedly Sending Top Prospect Acquired in Juan Soto Trade to White Sox for Dylan Cease
The San Diego Padres are acquiring right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease from the Chicago White Sox in a stunning trade.
While it took some time to learn the return, MLB Network's Jon Morosi has reported two players that are heading back to Chicago — and it's just as stunning.
Morosi reports that Drew Thorpe and Jairo Iriarte are heading back to Chicago for Cease.
Additionally, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports reliever Steven Wilson is heading to Chicago.
The last piece of the trade appears to be No. 7 prospect Samuel Zavala.
Thorpe was the top prospect acquired in the Juan Soto trade from the Yankees, and ranks as the No. 5 prospect in the Padres' system, per MLB Pipeline. Iriarte ranks as the Padres No. 8 prospect.
Thorpe had a dominant spring in San Diego, pitching seven scoreless innings. He was a "long shot" to make the Opening Day roster, but he was likely going to be the first player called up in the event of an injury. That won't be the case any longer.
Thorpe, 23, had a 2.52 ERA across High-A and Double-A for the Yankees last year. He's now switching teams for the second time this offseason.
As for Iriarte, he pitched three scoreless innings this spring for San Diego. The 22-year-old had a 3.49 ERA across High-A and Double-A last year for the Padres.
Wilson had a 3.48 ERA in 102 appearances for the Padres over the last two seasons.
Zavala is only 19 years old and spent the 2023 season in Single-A and High-A.
