Chicago White Sox Rumors: Cincinnati Reds come calling
The Chicago White Sox have pitchers to sell ahead of the 2023 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline and the teams are calling.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are already known to be one of the teams with interest in White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito and it may not be a coincidence that Giolito is not among the probable starting pitchers for the White Sox this weekend against the Atlanta Braves.
Another team that is in the market for starting pitchers ahead of the trade deadline on August 1 is the Cincinnati Reds.
The Reds are in first-place in the National League Central but the belief is that they may be caught by the Milwaukee Brewers or Chicago Cubs in the event that they can not improve their starting rotation during the second half of the season.
The Reds are wasting no time in addressing that need and have come calling on the White Sox. Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that the Reds have had trade discussions with the White Sox.
Trade Deadline update: The Reds have inquired to multiple teams regarding available starting pitchers, sources say. They’ve checked with the White Sox, who have Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, and (less likely) Dylan Cease. @mlb @670thescore @mlbnetworkradio @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 14, 2023
While Morosi mentioned Dylan Cease, it still remains highly unlikely that the team moves Cease at the deadline.
The Cincinnati Reds may be the perfect trade partner for the Chicago White Sox.
Giolito and Lynn are both expected to be traded by the deadline given that both veteran starting pitchers are expected to be free agents this winter. For a team that is looking for veteran stability in the starting rotation, there is no question that both Giolito and Lynn are a fit for the Reds.
There is no question that the Reds would be an ideal trade partner for the White Sox. For the Reds, one prospect that the team may dangle in trade talks is power-hitting infield prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand.
Strand has 20 home runs with the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate this season but is seemingly blocked from consistent playing time at the Major League level with Cincinnati.
If the White Sox get an offer from the Reds that includes Encarnacion-Strand as part of the package of prospects that they would receive, it should be a no-brainer to make the deal.
Next. White Sox pitchers drawing trade interest. dark