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By Zach Pressnell
Contributing Sports Writer
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The San Diego Padres are in the midst of another competitive National League West race, but they remain a step or two behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Padres are consistently one of the more aggressive teams in baseball, and this could continue in the offseason. San Diego has a lot of tough decisions to make in the coming months, but one stands out above the rest.
Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly recently predicted the Padres would lose ace Dylan Cease in free agency, either because the Padres are chasing another "shiny object" in free agency or because Cease finds his value elsewhere.
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"Though his 3.55 expected ERA and 3.73 FIP suggest he's been unlucky, the 4.82 ERA Cease has over 27 starts this season is an ugly mark," Kelly wrote. "Perhaps there's an outside chance he takes a qualifying offer to reset his value.
"What's more likely is Cease declines the qualifying offer and signs a multi-year deal with an early opt-out, as the Padres gave Nick Pivetta ahead of this season. Maybe that will be with the Padres, but there will surely be another shiny object for president of baseball operations A.J. Preller to go get."
The Padres are going to struggle with money this winter either way. But it makes much more sense to let Cease walk and potentially pursue another option in free agency or on the trade block.
The righty is likely looking for a deal worth well over $100 million, and that's not the kind of contract San Diego can afford to give to a pitcher who's struggled as Cease has for the last year or two.
The Padres will likely remain aggressive, but it's hard to imagine they'll retain Cease in free agency.
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