Cease came away with a no-decision in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Giants, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out seven.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander uncorked two wild pitches and threw 64 of 102 pitches for strikes before exiting the mound, but Cease also generated 30 called or swinging strikes in his first quality start as a Padre. He's posted a 3.38 ERA and 13:4 K:BB through his first 10.2 innings this season, and Cease lines up to make his next start at home next week against the Cubs.

Cease (0-1) took the loss in his Padres debut Saturday, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks over 4.2 frames. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

Cease struck out three of the first four batters he faced but ran into trouble in the second with a walk and a couple doubles. He settled in after that but couldn't quite get through five as the Giants plated an unearned run. Cease picked up 12 whiffs on 85 pitches, with eight of them coming on his slider. The right-hander's fantasy outlook received a nice boost with a trade to the Padres, but his name winds up in the loss column in his debut.

The White Sox traded Cease to the Padres on Wednesday in exchange for Drew Thorpe, Jairo Iriarte, Steven Wilson and Samuel Zavala, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

After recent pushes from the Rangers and Yankees to acquire Cease, the right-hander will ultimately end up in San Diego, giving a much-needed boost to a Padres rotation that lost Blake Snell, Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo during the offseason. Following his brilliant 2022 campaign, Cease took a big step back in 2023 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP across 33 starts, though he still was able to rack up 214 strikeouts in 177 innings. Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove have already been penciled in as the Padres' starters for their season-opening series versus the Dodgers in South Korea next week, but Cease could make his Friars debut when the team return to North America for its first domestic series with the Giants from March 28 through 31.

The Rangers and White Sox have engaged in trade discussions regarding Cease, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

With Jacob deGrom, Tyler Mahle and Max Scherzer all set to miss the first portion of the season, trading for Cease would go a long way in bolstering the Rangers' rotation depth to start the new campaign. The White Sox have reportedly sent numerous scouts to Rangers camp over the past week, indicating that trade discussions may be getting more serious, but Chicago may still opt to send Cease to the Yankees, who have checked in on his availability.

Cease allowed one earned run on two hits while striking out five and walking none across three innings in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

Cease threw 21 pitches in his second spring appearance and was regularly hitting 96 mph with his fastball, per Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times. The only run against him came on a solo home run, but he was otherwise sharp in the outing. Cease is set to start on Opening Day.

Cease was named the White Sox's Opening Day starter on Thursday, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cease will draw his second consecutive Opening Day assignment, this time taking on the Tigers on March 28. He has frequently been named in trade rumors this offseason, though the team is apparently planning for him to remain on the roster given this announcement. Cease had a disappointing 2023 season, posting a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP to go along with a 214:79 K:BB across 177 innings.

Cease signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the White Sox on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cease followed up his impressive 2022 campaign with a disappointing 2023, posting a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP alongside a 214:79 K:BB through 177 innings. Despite his decline, Cease remains a likely candidate to be traded for prospects prior to or during the season as the White Sox continue their rebuild.

Cease (7-9) took the loss Friday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over five innings against the Padres. He struck out seven.

EDGE Analysis

Cease was highly effective but far from efficient in needing 104 pitches to complete five frames. The only run he allowed came in the fifth when Matthew Batten struck out but advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third following another wild pitch, then was driven in by a Xander Bogaerts sac fly. While his season total of 214 strikeouts was elite, the 27-year-old struggled to a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 177 innings, though he finished strong with a 1.93 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 31 strikeouts across 23.1 innings over his final four starts.

Cease did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing six hits over seven scoreless innings against the Red Sox. He struck out 11 without issuing any free passes.

EDGE Analysis

Cease was masterful during Saturday's rain-soaked contest in Boston, but he didn't receive any run support and had to settle for an unfortunate no-decision. The 27-year-old avoided issuing any walks for the first time in 13 second-half starts and notched his first double-digit strikeout effort since June 26. Despite a disappointing campaign for last year's AL Cy Young runner-up, Cease has now amassed 200-plus strikeouts for the third consecutive season, joining the ranks of Chris Sale (2013-2016) and Ed Walsh (1910-1912) as the only White Sox pitchers to achieve the feat. Cease is tentatively projected to face the Padres at home in the club's final regular-season series next week.

Cease (7-8) took the loss Sunday, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks over six innings against the Twins. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

The positive is that Cease contributed his first quality start in over a month. Cease cruised through four, but a lack of run support combined with a 34-pitch fifth inning that was culminated by an Edouard Julien three-run homer sealed Cease's fate and paved the way for his eighth loss. Cease has now allowed 38 hits and 16 walks over his last six starts with an ERA of 7.71 in 31.2 innings. He's currently penciled in to take the mound next weekend in Boston.