The Chicago White Sox have been considering trading starting pitcher Dylan Cease throughout the winter. Despite a high asking price, Cease remains with the club and is set to be their 2024 Opening Day starter. However, there’s speculation that he could end up with the St. Louis Cardinals by the trade deadline.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller predicts that Cease will be traded to the Cardinals, suggesting that St. Louis is a better fit than the frequently mentioned Baltimore Orioles. While St. Louis has acquired pitchers like Sonny Gray, Kyle Gibson, and Lance Lynn, Miller views these moves as temporary solutions. The Cardinals do have promising pitching prospects in Tink Hence and Tekoah Roby, but they are likely a year away from being rotation options.
Cease is set to earn $8 million in 2024 and is appealing to teams because he won’t reach free agency until after the 2025 season. Despite a less-than-stellar performance in 2023, where he posted a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 214 strikeouts in 177 innings, Cease remains a sought-after pitcher. His advanced stats, like a 3.72 FIP, suggest he may have faced some bad luck.
In 2022, Cease showcased his potential with a 2.20 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 227 strikeouts in 184 innings, leading to a second-place finish in the AL Cy Young Award voting.
The White Sox are open to trading Cease but are firm on their asking price. General manager Chris Getz wants two premium prospects and two others in return. The Orioles attempted to acquire Cease with the package they later used for Corbin Burnes, but the White Sox declined. The Yankees are interested, but the White Sox are adamant about including top prospect Spencer Jones in any deal.
As the trade deadline approaches, it remains to be seen if Cease will indeed join the Cardinals or if another team will meet the White Sox’s asking price.
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