Padres settle on deals for Luis Arraez and Dylan Cease at $14,000,000 and $13,750,000, per insider

The San Diego Padres are believed to be lowering their payroll for next year, with Luis Arraez and Dylan Cease being two of the more coveted trade targets for the rest of the MLB. However, as per the latest reports, they have secured the services of Cease and Arraez for the 2025 campaign after reaching pre-arbitration salary agreements with the two players.

According to MLB insider Mark Feinsand, the San Diego Padres have negotiated a $14 million salary with Luis Arraez for the upcoming season to stop the player from heading into arbitration. Less than a couple of hours later on Thursday, the MLB Network columnist reported that the Padres have similarly concluded a $13.75 million contract with Dylan Cease to keep him on the team for next season.

Luis Arraez had started the 2024 campaign with the Miami Marlins after winning batting titles in both the American League and the National League over the past two years. Arraez became one of the earliest trade moves of last season as the San Diego Padres acquired him in early May in exchange for five minor league prospects. He ended the regular season with his third consecutive batting title.

Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox traded Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres at the start of the 2024 season. Cease had a shaky final year in Chicago despite being the runner-up for the AL Cy Young in 2022. Nevertheless, he enjoyed a fine season for the Padres and pitched a no-hitter in July. Cease made over 30 starts yet again, sealing his reputation as one of the most durable pitchers in the game.

Luis Arraez, Dylan Cease among five Padres completing pre-arbitration deals

Luis Arraez has won three batting titles in three years with three different teams (Image Source: Imagn)

On Thursday, the San Diego Padres completed agreements with as many as five players on their roster to prevent them from heading into the salary arbitration process. Luis Arraez and Dylan are the two foremost names on that list, which also includes Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon, and Luis Campusano.

As per reports, the Padres have completed a $4.8 million contract with right-handed relief pitcher Jason Adam. On the other hand, southpaw reliever Adrian Morejon has signed a $2 million deal with the team for the 2025 season.

At the same time, Luis Campusano has been retained on a $1 million deal even though he had a disappointing year. He is the primary catcher in the Padres lineup at the moment with Kyle Higashioka no longer on the roster.