Dylan Cease, the right-handed pitcher for the White Sox, has been a hot topic of trade discussions this offseason. Many believed that the 28-year-old would be wearing a different uniform by Opening Day, especially since GM Chris Getz made it clear that no player on the team was untouchable. Teams like the Dodgers, Reds, Orioles, and Yankees showed interest in acquiring Cease, who was in high demand due to his pitching abilities.
However, as the offseason progressed, the possibility of a trade involving Cease seemed to lose momentum. Reports indicated that Getz had set a high asking price for Cease and was unwilling to budge. In the meantime, other teams found alternative solutions, such as the Orioles acquiring Corbin Burnes and the Reds and Yankees signing Frankie Montas and Marcus Stroman in free agency. The Dodgers also built a new rotation with Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow leading the way. These developments led Getz to suggest that Cease would be the White Sox’s Opening Day starter, and Cease himself began looking for apartments in Chicago in case he stayed with the team.
However, a trade is still not completely off the table. It is highly unlikely that the White Sox would keep Cease long-term, as he confirmed that there have been no discussions about a contract extension. Nightengale reported that the White Sox informed Cease that they would trade him once a team met their asking price, although no team has done so yet. Recent injury news regarding Baltimore’s Kyle Bradish sparked speculation that the Orioles might reignite trade talks, but Getz stated that no such overture had been made.
Cease himself expressed that he doesn’t have a strong preference regarding a trade, as he loves Chicago but is intrigued by the possibility of playing for a contender. He acknowledged that staying in Chicago has its positives but also sees being wanted by other teams as an honor. Despite the uncertainty, Cease remains focused on preparing for the upcoming season and being a part of the team. Both Getz and manager Pedro Grifol praised Cease for his professionalism and presence in the clubhouse despite the trade rumors.
The White Sox would prefer to trade Cease before Opening Day, but the market for top free agent starters Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery has been slow. Once those pitchers sign, Cease’s market could heat up, but it remains to be seen if teams that have been hesitant to make a significant financial offer to Snell or Montgomery would be motivated to make a strong prospect offer for Cease. If no trade is made, the White Sox could hold onto Cease in hopes that his trade value increases before the deadline. However, there is also the risk of Cease’s performance declining or him suffering an injury, which would leave the White Sox without their top trade asset as they look to rebuild after a poor season.
According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com