Padres swing blockbuster trade before Seoul Series

• Drew Thorpe, a prospect who had been part of the return when the Padres traded superstar Juan Soto in December, is now part of the package headed to Chicago.
• That Padres are also trading two other top prospects and big-league reliever Steven Wilson.

Why it matters: The Soto trade stoked fears the Padres were headed for another rebuild, but flipping prospects for a star like Cease indicates the team still sees itself as a contender.

Follow the money: The Padres still significantly cut payroll from last year, per Fangraphs projections.

What's next: Cease joined the Padres just before their Thursday flight to South Korea for next week's Seoul Series.

• They and the Los Angeles Dodgers will open the MLB regular season next Wednesday and Thursday as part of the Seoul Series.
• The series also includes exhibition games, with the Padres playing Team Korea and the LG Twins.
• They won't continue their regular season until Opening Day at Petco Park on March 28 against the San Francisco Giants.