The White Sox are bad. There is no easy way to put it. The way they constructed this roster has not worked out and it is time for them to figure something else out. With the trade deadline looming in a few weeks, the White Sox need to keep busy, as teams are desperate to add talent to make a run.
The Sox have been very quiet the last few deadlines, with the most notable move being a horrible trade for Craig Kimbrel. But besides that, they refuse to make any significant moves. This deadline needs to be different, as they have to make some significant changes. One of them could be trading their ace, Dylan Cease, but should the White Sox consider that?
White Sox Could Get A Haul
One of the main reasons why the White Sox could and should consider trading Dylan Cease is because of the prospect haul they could get back. While Cease is having a worse season than last year, he is still showing signs that he is an ace, and teams would love to have him on their team.
Another reason is the contract, as Cease is under team control for cheap for the next few years. This is definitely an advantage that the Sox could use in bargaining. Considering the streak Scott Boras has had with the Sox, it may be advantageous to unload him before his contract is up, as the White Sox refuse to open up the checkbook.
If they do decide they want to trade Cease, they could get a similar deal to what the Cincinnati Reds got for Luis Castillo at the deadline last year. While Castillo was having a better year than Cease is now, Cease had a much better year last year and should still command a top value.
The Reds got the Mariner's 1st and 3rd best prospects, so you could expect something similar for the Sox if they do decide to move Cease. You could add more to it if the Sox threw a bullpen arm like Kelly or Graveman into any deal.
If they were to get two top 100 prospects that are close to the pros, I can't imagine the Sox would say no to a deal like that, especially so they can get out of paying for Dylan Cease in free agency. It will be a storyline to follow and I am curious to see what the Sox do.
No Pitching Depth
There could be a few downsides if the Sox decide to trade Cease. The most important one is depth. If they are trading Cease, it is likely that Giolito, Clevinger, and Lynn are also gone. This would leave the Sox with only Kopech as a starting pitcher.
I imagine they would target pitching in return, but it might not be major league-ready. But, if the Sox are truly waving the white flag, then it wouldn't be a bad thing, as they could tank and get a top pick in next year's draft.
The White Sox need to commit to a direction. If they don't see themselves winning for the next 2-3 years then everyone except Robert and maybe Vaughn should be on the table. They need to establish where this team will be in the near future and deal accordingly.
The Sox have a lot of decisions to make, but restocking the farm system should be a top priority. The team now stinks and the future doesn't look bright. If trading Cease helps with that, then it might be the best move.
