With all the noise around the White Sox this offseason, none is louder than the Dylan Cease trade chatter. It seems very likely that Cease has pitched his last game in a White Sox uniform. This may be in the best interest of both parties, as Cease regressed significantly last year, and he would get a fresh opportunity on a likely contending team.
It has been reported that the Dodgers have been showing a lot of interest in Cease, and they certainly have the assets to get a deal done. The Atlanta Braves are also in the mix, but due to their weak farm system, I cannot see them winning any bidding war against any other teams.
Regardless of Cease's 2023 season, he still has a good amount of trade value. The need for pitching is at an all-time high. Sonny Gray and Aaron Nola are both off the board, and once a few more dominos fall there will be no pitchers that can offer the ceiling that Cease can. As of right now, there may be just one pitcher that could, Julio Urias, but he has dealt with some off-the-field issues that teams may stay away from. Another value is the contract. He still has two full years of team control. He will be significantly cheaper than most of the free-agents, which can add more teams to the bidding. Here are some deals to teams that would benefit both sides significantly.
Another Trade With The Dodgers
Dodgers receive: Dylan Cease
White Sox receive: Michael Busch (MLB #44), Nick Frasso(MLB #65), and Samuel Munoz (LAD #22)
This spot makes the most sense, as the Dodgers have the ammo to get a deal done. If they are in a bidding war, they may have to overpay a bit, but they have the farm system depth to do so.
The White Sox would get their second basemen or third basemen of the future in Michael Bush, a potential top-of-the-rotation arm in Frasso, and a nice lottery ticket in Munoz.
Busch is a power-hitting infielder who could easily take over at second or third long-term for the White Sox. He hit 27 home runs in AAA with 90 RBIs, so he could be a legit middle-of-the-order threat for the Sox. He is also 26, so he is on the younger side, but still major-league-ready. He struggled a bit when he was called up last year, but it was his first taste of the MLB. He should be one of the main targets of the White Sox in any Cease trade.
Frasso is a quality right-handed starter that features an electric fastball. He is just about major league-ready as well, so it would be a very nice piece in return for the Sox. Over two levels last year, Frasso pitched to a 3.77 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 93 innings. He could pair with Nick Nastrini in the Sox rotation as another former Dodgers farm system arm.
Munoz is a nice lottery ticket, as he is just 19 years old. He has yet to make it to the minor leagues but has played well in rookie ball. The White Sox share a complex with the Dodgers, so they definitely have had an opportunity to get a good look at him, if they like him, he could definitely be included in the deal.
This would be a fantastic deal for the Sox, as they would get two top-100 prospects and a nice lottery ticket. This may seem like a bit of a haul, as Cease struggled last year, but if there is a bidding war, he may get more than we expect.
Cease To Baltimore
Baltimore receives: Dylan Cease
White Sox receive: Heston Kjerstad(MLB #24), Joey Ortiz (MLB #50)
This may seem like a lopsided trade for the Sox, but the Orioles are trading out of positions of depth. They have an absolutely stacked infield filled with young players, which makes Ortiz expendable, and their outfield is set with Cowser, Mullins, and Hayes/Santander. They could also use some of their cap space to lure a big-time free agent for DH/RF and make Kjerstad even more expendable.
At this point, after the Orioles got swept in the playoffs, they could be desperate for an Ace, and Cease may be the best available. If they are able to trade from their prospect depth, they would get the frontline starter that they have desperately needed and it works in the White Sox favor.
Apparently, Baltimore had shown interest around the trade deadline for Cease, so I can imagine they are one of the teams deep in talks to get Cease at this point in the offseason.
Headed To The Desert
Arizona receives: Dylan Cease
White Sox receive: Druw Jones (MLB #33), Tommy Troy (MLB #97), and Slade Cecconi (AZ #14)
After an over-achieving season that saw the Diamondbacks make it all the way to the World Series, they are looking for pieces to truly be prepared for a playoff run. Part of that is a true frontline ace in Dylan Cease. If they add Cease to their young rotation and add some bullpen pieces, they could be back again next year, as they have a stacked and young lineup.
Druw Jones would slot in as a cornerstone outfielder for the Sox and Tommy Troy is one of their best available and rising prospects. With Jordan Lawlar taking over as the SS of the future, he could be expendable. He is a shortstop, but he is a few years away from the major leagues, so there is no conflict with Montgomery or any other White Sox prospect. As a team, you need to get as much talent as possible and you can figure out the rest later.
This would be a fantastic deal with the most upside for the Sox. Jones, the son of former great Andruw Jones, has struggled a bit since being picked second overall in 2022, but he has the potential to be a great MLB player. Slade Cecconi was a former top pick who has struggled but has the tools to be a good MLB pitcher.
The White Sox could not go wrong with any of these trades and I am looking forward to seeing the actual trade. Let's hope that Getz can pin teams against each other in a bidding war for one of the best available pitchers on the market.
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