Despite winning the American League East a season ago, the Baltimore Orioles need to find more pitching in order to repeat that impressive accomplishment. It’s also vital if they are to advance further in the playoffs after falling to the Texas Rangers in the American League Divisional Playoffs a season ago.
We have not heard a whole heck of a lot come from Baltimore during the early portion of the offseason. Now that the MLB Winter Meetings are over, that’s changed.
Jon Heyman of the NY Post points to Baltimore as a legitimate potential landing spot for Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease. This also comes amid reports that Chicago is taking a step back from trade talks surrounding Cease until top free agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto decides on a new team. The idea would be to have teams that miss out on the Japanese sensation up their offers for Chicago’s star.
Baltimore makes perfect sense for the 27-year-old Cease in that he’s under team control for two more seasons and wouldn’t be a short-term rental. The Orioles also boast MLB’s best farm system, which is something that will entice the White Sox.
Related: David Rubenstein in talks to buy Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles as a fit for Dylan Cease on MLB trade front
Despite finishing last season with a 101-61 record, Baltimore has a hole in the rotation. Kyle Gibson (15-9 record, 4.73 ERA last season) signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in MLB free agency.
Baltimore’s rotation is headed by Kyle Bradish (12-7 record, 2.83 ERA last season). Youngster Grayson Rodriguez (7-4, 4.35 ERA) also performed pretty well during his rookie season. But getting an ace or a co-ace to go with Bradish has to be in the cards. That’s especially true after the division-rival New York Yankees acquired Juan Soto in a blockbuster trade earlier this week.
Cease would be just that. Despite struggling to an extent this past season (4.58 ERA, 1.42 WHIP), he has a track record of success. That includes posting a 2.20 ERA and 1.11 WHIP en route to finishing second in the American League Cy Young voting back in 2022.
The good news for Orioles fans is that they have what Chicago values in a potential Cease trade. Nine of Baltimore’s top-10 prospects are position players. Infielders Coby Mayo and Joey Ortiz could make sense for Chicago.
The same thing could be said for No. 10 prospect, pitcher Chayce McDermott. The former fourth-round pick was great after being promoted to Triple-A a season ago, posting a 3-2 record with a 2.49 ERA while striking out 152 batters in 119 innings. He would be part of Chicago’s Opening Day rotation.
In any event, it would not be a surprise if we continued to hear rumors linking Baltimore to Cease. It does seem like an ideal fit.