The stage was set for a statement weekend against the Dodgers. The San Diego Padres had just surged into first place, riding the wave of a hot stretch that had fans daring to dream again. A rivalry showdown against the Los Angeles Dodgers in August with playoff implications in the air—what more could you ask for? It looked like a golden opportunity to prove that this team was finally ready to own the big stage.

However, MLB does not deal in sentiment; it focuses on execution. Friday’s opener teased promise, and it was a close one-run game that showed fight on both sides. But then Saturday arrived with a different picture. From the very first pitch, things looked off. The Padres were not just beaten; the team looked flat, uninspired, and frankly overwhelmed. Against the Dodgers, who had been stumbling themselves, this was the kind of no-show that cuts deep.

That brings us to the headline moment: Dylan Cease’s collapse. The Padres’ right-hander star, brought in to be the steadying presence atop the rotation, had his worst outing in the team’s uniform. Four walks in the first inning established the tone, and by the time he left in the fourth, the damage was already done. A 6-0 shutout loss does not just hurt in the standings—it sends a jolt of doubt through the team.

That doubt was not just felt by fans. John Gennato did not hold back, saying: “The fans, the crowd seem dead. The Padres had absolutely no energy whatsoever. From pitch 1 all the way to the end of the game. It’s almost like a lack of fight in them, a lack of spirit… But Dylan Cease was so bad, so bad.” A powerful statement, and one that echoes what multiple fans likely felt watching from afar. Was this simply a bad night? Or was this a preview of how Cease could fare in a playoff atmosphere? That is the uncomfortable question now hanging in the air.

Adding to the unease is Cease’s admission of inconsistency: “Walks kill you… I didn’t really give us a chance.” Honest, yes, but also telling. With Michael King on the injured list, Yu Darvish pushing 39, and the offense sputtering at the worst possible time, the Padres do not have much margin for error. Cease was thought to be the answer. Instead, his struggles have become a warning sign, and when your elite star wobbles, the ripple effect runs through the entire dugout.

If Saturday’s implosion raised questions about the Padres’ present, it also shone a light on the team’s future—and specifically, what Cease’s next chapter could look like. Because while fans are still trying to process that Dodger Stadium disaster, management around the league is already thinking in dollar signs and deal terms.

Dylan Cease gets deal outlook similar to Carlos Rodón’s Yankees deal

Just a season or two ago, Dylan Cease looked like the type of pitcher who could headline free agency and flirt with a $200 million deal. He had electric stuff and was a strikeout machine, still in his prime—the ingredients were there. Fast forward to now, and the narrative has shifted. Instead of being analyzed as a locked-in ace, Cease is being talked about in the same breath as Carlos Rodón, an elite lefty who cashed in despite his own inconsistencies.

As per Zachary Rymer of Bleacher Report,  Cease’s market could hover closer to the $100 million range, with Rodón’s six-year, $162 million Yankees deal serving as the blueprint. In other words, teams still value the upside—the strikeouts, the velocity, and the flashes of dominance; however, they are wary of the volatility. Cease’s 4.61 ERA tells one story; his 169 strikeouts in 129.1 innings tell another. Scouts know the skill is real; however, they also know nights like the Dodgers’ meltdown cannot be ignored.

So what does this say heading into the winter? For one, Cease is still likely to get paid. Pitching is MLB’s ultimate commodity, and desperate teams always open their wallets for stars with ace power. Scott Boras, Cease’s agent, has a track record of enhancing volatile clients—and if Rodón could land $162 million despite durability issues, Cease has a real shot to secure something in that neighborhood.

For the Padres, this becomes a tricky crossroads. Does the team commit long-term to a starter who has not yet proven consistency under pressure? Or does the team let the star test the market and risk losing a pitcher who, at his best, can tilt a rotation? Either way, the Dodgers game was not just a bad night—it could have been a preview of the gamble any team is taking when they invest in Dylan Cease.

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