The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the offseason with major needs in their starting rotation and cast a wide net to address their issues in both high-level talent and depth.
Throughout the offseason, the Dodgers have been connected to Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease, who is available for trade as they undergo nearly a full rebuild. However, his reported cost has been high, and no team has yet to meet their asking price.
The Dodgers have also already addressed their rotation in a major way this offseason, acquiring Tyler Glasnow and signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto to give them two aces at the top of their rotation.
Since signing Yamamoto, the Dodgers’ interest in trading for Cease has dropped, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
The Dodgers’ interest in Cease was stronger before they signed Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Cease had a breakout season in 2022 when he pitched to 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 also had a solid season in 2021, posting a a 3.91 ERA, 3.41 FIP and 1.25 WHIP.
The right-hander regressed this past season as he finished with a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP, along with an AL-worst 259 walks since the start of the 2020 season. However, the White Sox defense was the worst in baseball, so getting him into a better environment should help, as indicated by his 3.72 FIP.
The 28-year-old is under team control through the 2025 season by way of salary arbitration, so any team that acquires him during the offseason would have him in their rotation for two full seasons.
Because of that control, White Sox general manager Chris Getz explained he doesn’t feel it’s necessary to trade Cease this offseason. However, doing so would only decrease his trade value and put the White Sox in a worse position moving forward.
Another report suggested the White Sox would wait until the top free agent starting pitchers are off the market so teams who missed out might be more willing to overpay. Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery remain the top two starters available in free agency.
Dylan Cease trade market
Other teams interested in Cease have reportedly included the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.
The Orioles are the presumed favorites to land Cease at this point given their need and prospect capital to get a deal done, but they have previously been reluctant to deal some of their better prospects.
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