The Astros were sniffing around the Dylan Cease market at the trade deadline, but there is one player they refused to give the Padres.

The Astros weren’t ready to part ways with a young arm and you can’t blame them for that. Cease is a pending free agent, so if they really want him, they can sign him this winter and they’ll still get to retain Arrighetti. But if their postseason comes up short and Arrighetti’s postseason debut is a dud, they’ll always wonder what if.

USA Today’s Bob Nigthengale said San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease is the second-best pitcher on the market behind Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara and revealed the likelihood that the Padres actually trade Cease.