The White Sox are holding steady in trade talks for Dylan Cease.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the asking price remains “awfully strong” for the club’s prized starting pitcher. Two teams Nightengale highlights, the Yankees and Orioles, will likely need to surrender at least one of their top prospects to get a deal done.
“The Chicago White Sox’s asking price for ace Dylan Cease remains awfully strong: They are seeking prized Yankees outfield prospect Spencer Jones or right-handed pitcher Chase Hampton in their package while asking the Baltimore Orioles for outfielder Colton Cowser or Heston Kjerstad among their prospects.”
via Bob Nightengale/USA Today
This update comes just a few days after NJ.com’s Randy Miller reported that the Yankees, who have since signed free agent Marcus Stroman, were “ready to pull the trigger” on a potential deal for Cease. Their hold-up, however, was two-fold:
- The Yankees hesitate to include Spencer Jones as part of the trade package.
- The White Sox still believe they can get a better return from the Baltimore Orioles.
Jones, 23, spent the bulk of last season with High-A Hudson Vally. Because he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020, he is about a year behind in where he would be expected in his development.
In 459 High-A appearances in 2023, Jones slashed .268/.337/.450 with a 29.2 K% and 9.2 BB%. The outfielder also spent some time in Double-A, hitting .261/.333/.406 over 78 plate appearances. Evaluators have been high on Jones and his raw power, which should continue to translate as he develops. His combined 16 home runs last season across both levels could be a precursor for what’s to come.
Hampton, 22, is the other name being thrown around in talks, and rightfully so. He’s been a quick riser through the Yankees system, pitching half of last season in Double-A as a 21-year-old. The Texas native has been constantly praised among talent evaluators for his three well-above-average pitches.
In 47 innings in High-A last year, Hampton went 2-1 with a 2.68 ERA, posting a 40.5 K% and 8.4 BB%. After making the jump to Double-A, he was 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA, striking out 27.4% of hitters and walking 8.5% over 59.2 innings. He still has room to grow, but the upside is clearly there.
Miller did mention in his article that it seems the Yankees would have to include both Jones and Hampton in a deal to beat out an offer from a team like Baltimore. Now that New York has added pitching, however, it’s unknown if they are still willing to even consider parting ways with either of those guys.
The Orioles, on the other hand, have remained one of the quieter teams involved despite their continued connection. Though we are starting to get a better glimpse of what prospects would be needed in a potential trade, Baltimore is still a bit of a wild card. There’s no doubt they possess the best prospect capital to get a deal done, but they have also hung onto their players the most tightly. Is now the time to finally unload someone like Cowser or Kjerstad to make a big splash?
Cowser, 23, was the top-ranked college hitter in the 2021 Draft class and went on to get selected at No. 5 overall. He is now ranked as Baltimore’s No. 2 prospect by MLB Pipeline and has some major league experience under his belt.
The Sam Houston State product started 2023 by dominating Triple-A pitching, hitting a scorching .330/.459/.537/.996 in 257 plate appearances. Cowser went on to debut in early July but struggled to make adjustments as pitchers carved him up pretty well. In 77 MLB plate appearances, he hit just .115/.286/.148 before getting demoted back to Norfolk by mid-August. Though concerns with his bat are still there, Cowser’s excellent defense will likely set him up as an eventual everyday outfielder.
Kjerstad, 24, split his time between Double-A and Triple-A in 2023 before making his debut in mid-September. Though drafted second overall in 2020, the outfielder didn’t start playing in the organization until June 2022 due to the effects of myocarditis, a viral inflammation of the heart.
Between the two minor league levels last year, Kjerstad’s bat came alive as he hit .303/.376/.528 with 21 homers, 55 RBI, and a .904 OPS over 543 play appearances. He’s shown some serious pop in his swing and made consistently hard contact, leading to a 10% barrel rate and eventual big league promotion late in the season. While his defense will likely place him in right field, especially given his strong arm, it’s his bat that will remain his most intriguing quality.
As more continues to develop in the Cease trade market, we will provide further updates. For now, it still appears that the Yankees and Orioles are at the forefront of discussions.
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Featured Photo: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
