Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz says that a strong spring helped Dylan Cease's value in advance of his trade to the San Diego Padres this week.

"His last outing in Cincinnati was an impressive one," Getz said Thursday. "There was a lot of buzz at that game. Unsurprisingly, teams really stepped up. ... Up until yesterday, we didn't feel like we had a deal on the table that we felt like met the mark, and it finally came together and we moved on it."

Cease, 28, was traded for three prospects and reliever Steven Wilson.

"Last year wasn't Dylan's best year," Getz said. "There was a level of concern that perhaps he wasn't going to get back to who he's been in the past. Other teams' comfort levels were raised when they were able to see it in person."