White Sox GM Makes Bold Comment Amid Dylan Cease Trade Rumors

Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease has been mentioned in numerous trade rumors throughout the offseason. However, to the White Sox’s credit, they haven’t traded Cease yet because no team has met their price to acquire the right-handed pitcher.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz spoke to reporters on Monday morning and said he expects Cease to be their Opening Day starter, per Chuck Garfien of NBC Sports Chicago.

With Spring Training set to begin this month across the majors, it’s not a surprise to see the Sox publicly come out and say that Cease will be their starter. Chicago knows they have one of the best tradeable starting pitchers, who could bring back a huge return the closer we get to the trade deadline.

The 28-year-old starting pitcher didn’t have his best stuff on the mound, with a 7-9 record, 4.58 ERA, and 214 strikeouts in 177 innings (33 starts) in 2023. Cease also had trouble keeping the ball inside the yard as he gave up 19 home runs (second-most in his career), including 11 on the road.

That being said, if the White Sox want to move Cease by this summer, they’ll hope he looks like the pitcher we saw in 2022 when he was an AL Cy Young candidate. 

The right-handed starter was dominant on the mound, posting a 14-8 record and a career-best 2.20 ERA. Cease allowed 16 home runs and 78 walks (American League-leading) but still had a career-high 227 strikeouts in 184 innings (32 starts).

Heading into Spring Training, the White Sox are longshots to win the American League Central at +3800 odds on FanDuel Sportsbook. Chicago is in the process of rebuilding its roster, and they know the value Cease holds if he has a stellar first half of the 2024 season.

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