Coming off yet another disappointing season, the Chicago White Sox could have a significant impact on the trade market, specifically with Dylan Cease as several teams are in search of starting pitching.
White Sox general manager Chris Getz recently told reporters his club is “open for business” after finishing 61-101 during the 2023 season. The White Sox have holes to fill throughout their roster and would stand to benefit from acquiring young talent.
That would make the Dodgers an ideal trade partner, particularly with their reported re-signing of Jason Heyward due to bring the 40-man roster full.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Dodgers and Atlanta Braves are among the teams in talks with the White Sox on a Cease trade:
Atlanta has joined the Dodgers and several others who are engaged in trade talks with the Chicago White Sox for ace Dylan Cease.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) November 27, 2023
In addition to Cease, the Dodgers have been connected to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Corbin Burnes and reportedly made a contract offer to Aaron Nola.
The Braves also pursued Nola before he re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, and had interest in Sonny Gray prior to his joining the St. Louis Cardinals on a three-year, $75 million contract.
As for Cease, one year after posting a 2.20 ERA, 3.10 FIP and 1.11 WHIP in 184 innings, which earned him a second-place finish for the American League Cy Young Award, he regressed in 2023 to the tune of a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.
However, the right-hander was hurt by a struggling White Sox defense that ranked the worst in baseball. More indicative of Cease’s potential, he had a 3.72 FIP this past season.
But another trouble spot for Cease are his 259 walks since the start of the 2020 season are the most in the AL during that span, and his fastball velocity in 2023 declined 1.2 mph from last year and slider had the highest run value (10) from his pitches.
Dylan Cease contract details
Cease is under team control through the 2025 season by way of salary arbitration. Thus, if the Dodgers, Braves or another team were to complete a trade during the offseason, they would have the 27-year-old in their rotation for two full seasons.
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