Padres SHOCK MLB by KEEPING Dylan Cease and Michael King – Is This the Move That SAVES Their Season?

**Padres Opt to Keep Michael King and Dylan Cease Amid Trade Rumors**

Despite swirling trade rumors throughout the offseason, the **San Diego Padres** have decided to hold onto right-handed pitchers **Michael King** and **Dylan Cease**, according to reports from **Ken Rosenthal** of *The Athletic*. Both pitchers were considered potential trade candidates as the Padres navigated payroll constraints, but president of baseball operations **A.J. Preller** has made it clear that the team plans to keep its rotation intact for the 2025 season.

“Preller prefers to keep his team together,” Rosenthal wrote, citing sources familiar with the situation. While Cease, who is owed **$14 million in 2025**, was seen as the more likely trade candidate, King’s recent contract extension signaled his likely return to San Diego.

Preller emphasized the importance of both pitchers to the team’s success, telling reporters, including **AJ Cassavell** of *MLB.com*, “Dylan is a very big part of our club. The additions we’ve made supplement what’s already a really good rotation. That’s our focus going forward—having a strong rotation.”

The decision to retain Cease and King bolsters a Padres rotation that also includes veteran **Yu Darvish**. Manager **Mike Shildt** acknowledged the luxury of having multiple pitchers capable of starting on Opening Day, saying, “We’re still working through a few things. The good news is we have multiple choices. It’s a hard decision to make, but it’s good to have that hard decision because you have multiple guys who could be your No. 1.”

With King, Cease, and Darvish anchoring the rotation, the Padres are poised to compete in a tough **NL West** division. While trade rumors may resurface as the season progresses, San Diego’s commitment to its current roster signals confidence in its ability to contend in 2025.