Red Sox Insider Provides Key Update On Boston’s Pursuit Of Ace Pitcher

It appeared the Boston Red Sox were done making splashy moves after signing Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract.

But just days after landing Bregman came rumblings of another potential blockbuster move from the Red Sox.

MassLive’s Sean McAdam reported Sunday that the Red Sox “have been in touch” with the San Diego Padres about trading for starting pitcher Dylan Cease. Cease would give Boston another standout arm in its rotation and make it a legit contender in the American League.

But Red Sox fans should probably stop imagining that given the latest report on the situation.

“In other news, per sources, Dylan Cease to the Red Sox is a long-shot,” WEEI’s Rob Bradford wrote on the X platform Monday. “Sox have no intention of including Wilyer Abreu in any such deal.”

The Red Sox rotation already looks in good shape thanks to the additions of Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler this offseason to go along with Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito and Kutter Crawford.

Adding Cease to that mix might make it arguably the best starting staff in the majors, though. Cease has been one of the best pitchers in baseball the last few seasons and is a workhorse, having recorded four straight seasons of at least 32 starts. The 29-year-old right-hander put up a 14-11 record with a 3.47 ERA, 1.067 WHIP and 224 strikeouts in 189 1/3 innings this past season with the Padres.

The cost to acquire Cease probably is sizable given his top-tier talent and it’s something the Red Sox might stay away from given they already sent a haul of prospects to the Chicago White Sox for Crochet. But unlike Crochet, there’s not much team control with Cease since he will become a free agent following this season.

That doesn’t seem to jive with what the Red Sox front office is trying to construct as they look to be competitive in the present while remaining patient for their young prospects to blossom.

But just because it’s a “long-shot” to land Cease in a trade doesn’t mean there’s absolutely no chance of it happening — right Lloyd Christmas?