So the Pivetta news is still settling in, and I think it changes the whole shape of this offseason for the Padres. Rotation spot filled, real strikeout arm added, and now the question everyone’s asking is what happens next.

The name that keeps coming up is Dylan Cease. With Pivetta locking down a spot, the depth is there to actually move him for a real return instead of needing to keep every arm on the roster just to survive the season. Michael King’s name gets brought up too, but I think that one’s a lot less likely. Cease feels like the more realistic trade chip here.

There’s also still the ownership situation hanging over all of this. With Peter Seidler’s family fighting for control of the team, it’s been a quieter offseason than I think anyone wanted, outfield additions like Jason Heyward and Connor Joe aside. San Diego was in on Roki Sasaki too, but he ended up going to the Dodgers, which stings a little given how things have gone with that rivalry.

Rotation-wise, if you’re penciling this out, it’s looking like Darvish, Cease, King, and Pivetta up top with a fifth starter spot still to figure out. That’s a real foursome. That’s a group I like going into a season.

What’s next is the same question it always is with this front office. Are they buying more, or are they setting up for a deadline move? I don’t think we’ve seen the last of it.