Report: Dodgers Unlikely to Pursue Padres’ Star in Free Agency

The offseason rumor mill’s already heating up. MLB insider Mark Feinsand says the Los Angeles Dodgers probably won’t chase San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease in free agency.

Cease has flashed real brilliance with the Padres. But after a dip in 2025 and the Dodgers’ deep rotation, the 2020 AL Cy Young runner-up will likely need to find his next contract somewhere else.

So, it sounds like Los Angeles may focus its winter shopping on the lineup, not the mound. That could make for a pretty interesting offseason from a team that always seems to have something up its sleeve.

Dodgers Not Expected to Target Dylan Cease

Cease hits free agency just five days after the World Series wraps up. His two years in San Diego were a mixed bag—he posted a strong 3.47 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 2024, but then slipped to a 4.55 ERA and a career-worst 12 losses in 2025.

Some clubs might still gamble on his strikeout numbers and past flashes. But the Dodgers don’t see much reason to add him to their already stacked rotation.

Rotation Depth Is Key

The Dodgers’ starting staff is one of the deepest in baseball. They’ve got Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Emmet Sheehan leading into 2026.

Clayton Kershaw looks like he’s wrapping up his legendary run in LA. And there’s still the wild card of Roki Sasaki—no one’s quite sure what his role will be next year.

With this much depth, it just doesn’t make sense to spend on Cease.

Positional Needs Take Priority

The Dodgers are more likely to look for upgrades at third base and in the outfield. The infield situation partly depends on Max Muncy’s $10 million mutual option, which could get declined.

If that happens, it opens the door for them to get creative at third base.

The Third Base Question

Two names already stand out as possible Muncy replacements. There’s Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, who brings big power and on-base skills, and homegrown prospect Alex Freeland, a younger, high-upside choice.

Either way, the Dodgers could refresh their infield and keep their championship window wide open.

Potential Offseason Splash in the Outfield

In the outfield, it looks like Los Angeles will move on from Michael Conforto. That sets them up to chase one of the biggest fish in the market—Kyle Tucker from the Chicago Cubs.

Tucker’s got that perfect mix of power, contact, and defense that every contender wants. He’d be a huge get for LA.

Reshuffling the Outfield Alignment

If Tucker signs with the Dodgers, he’d take over right field. Teoscar Hernández could then shift back to left, his more natural spot.

That setup would boost both the offense and the defense, and give Ohtani and Mookie Betts another big bat to lean on.

The Big Picture for the Dodgers’ Offseason Strategy

The Dodgers look ready to pass on Dylan Cease, and honestly, that says a lot about how they feel about their pitching rotation. Instead of chasing another expensive starter, they seem focused on shoring up spots that actually affect run production and defense.

Key takeaways for the Dodgers’ winter plans:

• Rotation still looks elite, even without Clayton Kershaw.
• Third base might get a splashy name like Munetaka Murakami, or maybe prospect Alex Freeland gets a shot.
• Kyle Tucker is a big target who could totally shake up the outfield and add some serious pop to the lineup.
• By not going after Dylan Cease, they save money and resources for bigger needs elsewhere.

Do you want me to also create a meta description optimized for SEO to go along with this blog post? That would help it rank better on search engines.
 
Here is the source article for this story: Dodgers ‘Unlikely’ to Pursue Padres Star in Free Agency: Report