NASHVILLE (670 The Score) – As the baseball world waits for two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to make his decision in free agency, the White Sox’s top pitcher is drawing more interest than any other player on the trade market at the Winter Meetings.
The White Sox have made right-hander Dylan Cease available, and trade talks are progressing with various clubs. A number of teams have asked for meetings with new White Sox general manager Chris Getz to discuss Cease, with the interest spanning from coast to coast.
The Orioles, Braves, Dodgers and Cardinals are believed to be teams putting together trade offers or interested in doing so for the 27-year-old Cease, who’s under contract for two more seasons. Given that contract control and the reasonable $8.8-million salary that Cease projects to make in 2024, according to MLB Trade Rumors, and the price will be high to pry him from the White Sox.
Despite the widespread interest in Cease, a move doesn’t seem imminent, with one source saying, “Chicago doesn’t appear to be in a hurry to trade him.” Getz’s comments suggested the same he looks to overhaul the roster following a 101-loss season.
“There is certainly no urgency to move Dylan Cease,” Getz said Monday. “If there is a way to help our team through trades, we will look at it. Dylan is one of the best pitchers in baseball. But there is a responsibility I have to do what's best for the White Sox. If a team meets a threshold that makes us a lot better, then we are going to do that.”
Cease is coming off a disappointing season but is still viewed across MLB as a dominant pitcher. He posted a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 177 innings across 33 starts in 2023. Cease was the American League Cy Young runner-up in 2022, when he had a 2.20 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 184 innings across 32 starts.
He has also been as durable as any starter in MLB in recent years, making a combined 97 starts across the past three seasons.
Many believe the White Sox will likely wait to trade Cease until reigning National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell and Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto sign in free agency and perhaps until Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow and/or Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes are dealt.
With that as context, Getz was still plenty busy Monday talking with other baseball executives.
"They have certainly been active," Getz said when asked to describe his conversations here at the Winter Meetings. "We did the Aaron Bummer deal (with the Braves), and we think there is some momentum from that. We are happy with the returns, but it also showed teams we are willing to be active. We have talked to a lot of other clubs and agents as well. We just try with our group to feed off of the energy of the Winter Meetings.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.