(Audacy) If the White Sox are fully committing to a rebuild, right-hander Dylan Cease represents their best chip to bring back a haul of prospects outside of star center fielder Luis Robert, whom the team doesn't seem inclined to trade.
Under the direction of new general manager Chris Getz, Chicago seems intent on tearing it down this offseason following a woeful 101-loss season in 2023. With that has come an uptick in rumors that Cease could be on the move.
The 27-year-old Cease has been an ace before despite his underwhelming season in 2022, when he posted a 4.58 ERA. He was the American League Cy Young runner-up in 2022, when he had a 2.20 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 32 starts. Further bolstering his value is his durability, as Cease has established himself as one of the most reliable starters in the game with a combined 97 starts across the past three seasons.
Cease is arbitration-eligible in 2024 and 2025 before he's set to become a free agent ahead of the 2026 season. He hired Scott Boras as his agent in 2022, an indication not only that a big payday is coming his way but that it's all but certain he'll hit free agency instead of signing an extension while under team control.
That ups the urgency to move him, a path that makes sense for Chicago, Audacy MLB insider Jon Heyman told the Mully & Haugh Show on Wednesday.
"To sign Cease, he's got Scott Boras," Heyman said. "Their highest contract ever, as we know and have been reminded many times, is (Andrew) Benintendi for $75 million – Scott Boras doesn't sign anybody for that little amount of money, so that deal is never happening.' They've got two years to go, they're not winning this year, it does make sense – if you're going to try to maximize your future – it does make sense to trade Cease now. I do believe that.
"But if you're doing what they've decided to do, it does make sense to trade Cease now with two years to go. The value is enormous. Much better than (Tyler) Glasnow, who has one year to go, (and is) injury-prone. Cease pitches every five days, he didn't have a great year this year, but he's there every five days. He's very talented.
"They should get a ton for him if they do trade him, and I would say it's more likely than not they do. I wouldn't guarantee it … the White Sox can afford the arbitration number for Cease, but if you're going to do this it makes sense to trade Cease."
Also on the block is talented-but oft-injured designated hitter Eloy Jimenez, who had 18 homers and a .758 OPS in 120 games last season. The ceiling is tantalizing for the 27-year-old Jimenez, but injuries have been a constant throughout his career, making him a depressed asset.
"It makes sense to trade Jimenez," Heyman said. "Jimenez, I don't think you could get that much for at this point. I do think he has talent, but I don't think he has performed to that level. He's been hurt a lot.
"Cease is the one guy where you can really get some great, young players back, and they are in need of great, young players, so I'm kind of with them on this. I don't usually love it for a big-market team, but I kind of agree that if you're rebuilding, you've got to trade Cease."
