The Chicago White Sox may be nearing a trade of starting pitcher Dylan Cease.
In recent weeks, both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves were reported to be having discussions with the White Sox regarding a trade for Cease.
There remains no reason for the White Sox not to trade Cease this off-season. The White Sox are at the start of a rebuild with no expectation of contending over the course of the final two years in which they have control over their ace.
Given the fact that Cease has two years of team control before reaching free agency, there is an expectation that the White Sox could net a haul for the starting pitcher in a trade this off-season.
Trade talks involving Cease appear to be heating up as Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports that a trade may happen before the start of the Winter Meetings next week.
Sources: Dylan Cease trade talks have intensified in the last 48 hours, and some people close to the negotiations believe a deal *before* the winter meetings is increasingly possible.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 29, 2023
Cease’s hometown Braves are among the finalists. @MLBNetwork @MLB
The Braves get mentioned as a finalist for Cease with it also being safe to assume that the Dodgers are involved. This is exactly what the White Sox should want in that they have two teams with healthy farm systems in a bidding war for Cease.
The White Sox have a recent history with each team. At the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline last season, the White Sox traded pitchers Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly to the Dodgers. Earlier this month, the White Sox traded relief pitcher Aaron Bummer to the Atlanta Braves for a package that included second baseman Nicky Lopez and starting pitcher Mike Soroka.
A trade of Cease would all but confirm the White Sox’s intention to rebuild as the move would accelerate the ascension of their farm system.