With the Winter Meetings fully getting underway today, expect to see quite a few rumors continue to circulate regarding Dylan Cease’s next team.
Recently, Jon Morosi joined Harold Reynolds and Greg Amsinger on MLB Network from the Winter Meetings to discuss the latest on the Dylan Cease trade market. While he named a few teams we have all been made aware of – the Dodgers, Braves, Diamondbacks, and Orioles – he named two new teams among those who are in the mix: the Giants and Reds.
Morosi also specified that, at the very latest, he expects Cease to be traded by the end of the calendar year if he is not traded this week. This aligns with a recent Ken Rosenthal report, in which he reported that White Sox general manager Chris Getz would most likely wait to trade Cease until more of the top free-agent starters were off the board. While no further frontline starters have signed in the last few days, Morosi’s report about the robust market for Cease at the Winter Meetings is enough to rekindle speculation about a potential trade in the coming days.
The Diamondbacks, Orioles, Dodgers, and Reds were among those teams with stated interest in Cease at last year’s trade deadline. With the Braves perhaps emerging as the most aggressive suitor thus far, Atlanta and the White Sox are no strangers when it comes to doing business with one another, as Aaron Bummer was just traded to Atlanta a few weeks ago. While the White Sox went for quantity over quality in that deal, they would likely look to gain some more talented prospects in return with Cease at the forefront.
After a second-place Cy Young finish in 2022, Cease struggled throughout the 2023 season, finishing 7-9 with a 4.58 ERA, 3.72 FIP, and a 27.3% strikeout rate. He has two full seasons of team control remaining, which continues to make him of such high value around the league.
Chris Getz has important decisions to weigh between trading Cease now and waiting until more free agents sign. Waiting for free agency to take shape of course makes it easier to push the teams who lose out on certain players of interest – but also runs the risk of taking serious suitors out of trade discussions. Getz would also be smart to strike before other rumored trade candidates Tyler Glasnow or Shane Bieber find new homes – setting the market is always better than reacting to it.
As more information becomes available, we will continue to provide updates.
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