Padres ace Dylan Cease delivers a 2-word verdict on Pokemon Mr. Mime
Several MLB stars take an interest in collecting Pokemon cards, and one of them is San Diego Padres ace Dylan Cease. In his latest post, Cease showed his love for the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
On Wednesday, Cease shared a holographic Mr. Mime card, calling the Pokémon "Underrated." The snapshot reveals Cease's appreciation for the strategic element of the card game.
Mr. Mime, a classic Pokémon introduced in the original games, boasts the "Mimic Barrier" ability, which prevents damage if either player’s Active Pokémon has special Energy attached. Its second move, "Psypower," applies pressure by placing damage counters strategically.
Cease endorsed the power of this Pokémon with a two-word reaction:
"Underrated Pokémon."
Dylan Cease avoids arbitration with Padres in final year before free agency
Earlier in January, ahead of the arbitration deadline, Dylan Cease and the Padres settled on a one-year, $13.75 million salary for the 2025 season before the starting pitcher hit free agency at the end of the year.
Though both parties might have settled on a contract, there's no certainty whether Cease will remain in Petco for the entirety of the 2025 season. With him entering free agency next offseason, the Padres might look to trade him and receive some value in terms of prospects and cash, which will help them in the future.
In December, MLB insider Mark Feinsand reported that the Padres have made Cease available to be traded if a good offer comes along. Another insider Jon Morosi of SNY reported that the pitcher has driven interest from the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles, who have a need for right-handed power.
Cease spent his first five major league seasons with the Chicago White Sox, who traded him to the Padres last offseason. In 2024, Cease pitched a career year, posting a 14-11 record with a 3.47 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 224 strikeouts over 189.1 innings. He also threw his first career no-hitter.
It remains to be seen whether the Padres seek a wait-and-watch approach to see if Cease could help them in a deeper run in 2025 and rather use his services in the postseason or let go of him.