A proposed trade involving Dylan Cease of the White Sox sees him moving to the AL East in a five-player deal.
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Cease has been the subject of trade speculation since the offseason commenced back in November. With spring training looming just a few weeks away, no trade deal involving Cease has materialized thus far. However, there appears to be one team that stands out as a potential destination: the Baltimore Orioles.
Numerous hypothetical trade scenarios have been proposed involving Cease and various clubs. One such proposal, shared by MLB.com’s Manny Randhawa on January 6, suggests a five-player trade that would see Cease joining the Orioles. In this proposed deal, Baltimore would receive Cease in exchange for a package consisting of catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo, second baseman/outfielder Connor Norby, left-handed pitcher Cade Povich, and infielder Ramón UrÃas. While UrÃas is the only player with major league experience in this group, Basallo, Norby, and Povich are all highly regarded prospects within the Orioles’ organization.
An unnamed American League executive highlighted the Orioles’ need for a starting pitcher, emphasizing the importance of adding a veteran arm to their rotation, especially after their impressive 101-win season in 2023. While the Orioles made a significant offseason move by signing reliever Craig Kimbrel, they have yet to address the void left in their starting rotation following Kyle Gibson’s departure.
As it currently stands, the Orioles’ starting rotation for the upcoming season features Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, John Means, Dean Kremer, and Tyler Wells, with Kyle Gibson notably absent after signing with the St. Louis Cardinals. Despite Gibson’s departure, the Orioles’ rotation is projected to produce the seventh-lowest Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in baseball for the 2024 season, according to FanGraphs’ depth-chart projections.
Despite the Orioles’ need for additional pitching depth, an unnamed National League executive expressed skepticism about the likelihood of a Cease trade, suggesting that the Orioles may not feel the same pressure as larger market teams to make a move. However, the Orioles possess the financial flexibility and a highly regarded farm system that could enable them to pursue significant acquisitions, whether through free agency or trades.
Meanwhile, the White Sox have shown no urgency to trade Cease, as he remains under team control for the next two years and carries a manageable salary for the upcoming season. Manager Pedro Grifol has already named Cease as the team’s Opening Day starter, further indicating the White Sox’s commitment to retaining him for the foreseeable future.
While trade rumors continue to swirl around Cease, it appears that he will remain with the White Sox for the time being, barring any unforeseen developments in the coming weeks. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Cease’s value remains high, and the White Sox could potentially explore trade options involving him in the future.
