This affiliate content is not influenced by our advertising relationships, but AP and Data Skrive might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content.

Two years after their payroll peaked, the San Diego Padres' financial outlook remains a source of fascination to people within Major League Baseball leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.

A year later, the Padres find themselves in slightly better standing. They are 55-49, one game ahead of their 54-50 record last July 24. They are also entering dangerous territory. The wins and losses tell a story of year-over-year improvement. The recent trend lines do not.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/onsi/fantasy as MLB Mock Trade: Chicago Cubs Rent Dylan Cease, San Diego Padres Land Their Catcher of the Future. It's questionalbe when a team deals for a pitcher with a mid-season winning percentage of .230.

Dylan Cease is a free agent after 2025, and the Padres appear open to trade offers. With that, here are his best trade fits.

This affiliate content is not influenced by our advertising relationships, but AP and Data Skrive might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content.

Shedeur Sanders Gave Frank Answer When Asked Why He Wasn't Playing With Browns Starters Archaeologists Found 115,000-Year-Old Human Footprints Where They Shouldn’t Be Missing woman's empty car discovered near Slab City. Months later, she's found alive.

Ken Rosenthal proposed a three-way MLB trade deadline deal between the Red Sox, Padres, and Marlins involving Jarren Duran.