The Chicago White Sox, once a dominant force not too long ago, are currently one of the weakest teams in the American League.
They concluded the 2023 season with a highly disappointing 61-101 record, and the prospects of significant improvement in 2024 are slim.
All other teams in the AL Central have made improvements this offseason, except for the White Sox.
Given their current situation, they are likely to entertain all offers that come their way for their star pitcher Dylan Cease.
However, the new general manager Chris Getz has not been convinced by any of these offers so far.
Cease, who was a finalist for the Cy Young award in 2022, experienced a decline in performance with a 4.58 ERA last year, which affected his trade value to some extent.
Nevertheless, Cease acknowledges that there is a high probability of him being traded eventually.
“I wouldn’t say it’s inevitable. I would say there’s a good chance,” Cease stated, as reported by White Sox Talk on Twitter.
He responded to the word “inevitable” in relation to a trade by downplaying it and substituting it with “a very good chance” of being moved.
While he may be correct, the best course of action for the White Sox is to trade him, and in order to maximize their return, they need to do it this year.
Cease still has two seasons of arbitration eligibility remaining, but it is unlikely that the White Sox will be contenders in either of those seasons.
If they trade him now, he will have two years to contribute to his new team, whereas if they wait until next season, he will only have one year left and his value will diminish.
For the White Sox, the priority is to maximize the return they receive for Cease.
In summary, a trade is not inevitable, but it is highly probable.
© 2023
According to the Source thecoldwire.com