National insider predicts chances of Chicago White Sox trades

The Chicago White Sox are expected to be active on the trade market and it’s a process that began last week when they dealt relief pitcher Aaron Bummer to the Atlanta Braves for five players that likely were not going to be on the Braves’ roster for much longer.

The Bummer trade all but confirmed that the White Sox are in sell mode this off-season and considering the massive failure that was their previous rebuild, there are concerns about the journey that new general manager Chris Getz is about to embark on.

For the White Sox, all eyes appear to be on starting pitcher Dylan Cease and designated hitter Eloy Jimenez.

A report this week from Bruce Levine of 670 The Score suggested that both Cease and Jimenez will be traded this off-season and Jon Heyman of the New York Post followed up with his predictions regarding the White Sox players that will be traded this winter.

"Dylan Cease, White Sox SPThe White Sox are telling teams everyone is available, and they’ve talked seriously on Cease, who has enormous value. He’s very dependable (no missed starts three straight years), has ace talent (a 2.20 ERA in 2022) and is two years from free agency. The White Sox lost 101 games, and while the Orioles and Diamondbacks showed us how to transform into a playoff team two years after losing 100 games, it’s still unlikely. Odds to be traded: 60 percent.-Jon Heyman, New York Post"

The odds of Cease being traded should be even higher. Cease has no business being on a White Sox roster that will be bad during the final two seasons before he reaches free agency. If nothing else, the White Sox have to trade Cease this off-season.

"Eloy Jimenez, White Sox OFJimenez is another star the South Siders are seriously discussing. However, the promising hitter has been hurt a ton, dropping his value. Odds to be traded: 50 percent.-New York Post"

Jimenez is an interesting case considering the team-friendly extension he signed prior to the 2019 season. Jimenez has two club options at the end of his contract that potentially put him under team control for both the 2025 and 2026 seasons. There will be interest in Jimenez given the lack of position players on the free agent but the White Sox may wait until the trade deadline to allow for the slugger to prove he can remain healthy.

Heyman also mentioned Luis Robert and put the odds of a trade at 10%. Robert appears to be the building block for the White Sox moving forward and therefore, a trade likely won’t be happening this off-season.