3 Dylan Cease trades between Chicago White Sox and Dodgers
By Todd Welter
Chicago White Sox ace starting pitcher Dylan Cease is rumored to be on the trade market.
It makes sense since the Sox lost 101 games last season and saw their contention window slam shut.
In addition, Cease is under team control for two more seasons and the team has made no indication they want to sign him long term.
The Chicago White Sox are probably not going to be contending by 2025 anyway.
Cease struggled last season, but he still finished as a 3.7 fWAR player with a 3.72 FIP. He is also just a year removed from almost winning the AL Cy Young.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are being reported as having talks with the Chicago White Sox about Cease.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale is reporting the Dodgers have contacted the Sox about acquiring Cease.
General manager Chris Getz has stated a few times this offseason that no player is untradeable.
Trading with the Dodgers is just good business considering they always have a plethora of good prospects. The Sox already got pitcher Nick Nastrini for Lance Lynn at last season’s trade deadline. He is the Sox’ No. 6 prospect and might make the starting rotation.
Los Angeles has five prospects in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100.
The return for Cease would be interesting. The last time a pitcher near Cease’s caliber and contract control was traded in the offseason was Pablo Lopez last offseason.
It was the Marlins who shipped Lopez off as they sent two prospects and Lopez to the Minnesota Twins for Luis Arraez.
The Chicago White Sox just got five players for reliever Aaron Bummer. Although, all five of those players are either platoon players or reclamation projects.
In terms of quantity, it would make sense for Getz to demand at least six players. If he is looking for quality, he would probably be better served going for two players who are near or at the Majors and then two more prospects in the Dodgers’ Top 30.
He needs to make sure he comes away with starting pitching help and a long-term fix at second base or right field.