Chicago White Sox Rumors: Wild trade idea emerges from Houston Astros

The Chicago White Sox are selling at the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline and based on contract statuses, we have a good idea of the players that the team will be looking to move over the course of the next two weeks.

Starting pitchers Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn headline that list followed by relievers Kendall Graveman, Reynaldo Lopez, and Joe Kelly. There is no question that the White Sox would love for a team to take care of their shortstop Tim Anderson problem for them but it remains to be seen if there will be interest in Anderson given his struggles this season.

With the rumored moves of the White Sox leading up to the deadline, it has become common knowledge that the White Sox’s next contending core will be built around starting pitcher Dylan Cease and American League All-Star center fielder Luis Robert Jr.

Unless a team gets crazy and offers the White Sox a package that they can not refuse.

Could that team be the Houston Astros?

Speculation on a Cease trade to the Astros ran rampant on Tuesday with Jon Heyman telling a Sports Radio station in Houston that the White Sox starting pitcher would be the dream acquisition for the defending World Series champions.

To that end, Houston Astros insider Michael Schwab of The Juice Box Journal floated out an insane trade rumor.

The Houston Astros are pursuing a blockbuster trade with the Chicago White Sox.

At first blush, no.

The White Sox are not going to be trading Cease and Robert in a deal.

Based on comments made by White Sox general manager Rick Hahn, the expectation is for the team to return to contention in 2024. Meaning, this deadline and moving players on expiring contracts such as Giolito is more of a retool for the team as opposed to a teardown.

With it not being teardown, there would be little incentive for the White Sox to move Cease and Robert.

Back us into a corner and, yes, there may be a path to the White Sox moving Cease given that it is unlikely they will re-sign him in 2025 and could get the best prospect haul of any team at the deadline for their ace. But even that scenario has many caveats.