The struggling Chicago White Sox have traded from the margins of their roster thus far leading up to Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline. It was expected that several impending free agents and veterans would be moved with Chicago (43-64) out of contention heading into MLB games today.
While rumors have popped up that general manager Rick Hahn might be willing to listen on controllable young players, nothing has come to fruition on that end.
Something might be changing with hours to go ahead of the deadline. According to Joel Sherman of the NY Post, the White Sox are “taking more serious” offers for reigning American League Cy Young runner-up Dylan Cease.
This would be an absolutely massive transition for Chicago given that Cease, 27, is under team control through the 2025 season. It would also obviously take a whole heck of a lot for another team to acquire a top end starting pitcher who is still in his prime.
Dylan Cease stats (2023): 4-4 record, 4.15 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 143 strikeouts, 119.1 innings
While Cease has struggled to an extent this season, he has a track record of success. The former Chicago Cubs sixth-round pick pitched to a 14-8 record with a 2.20 ERA and 1.11 WHIP en route to finishing second to Justin Verlander in the AL Cy Young voting last season. He’s averaging nearly 11 strikeouts per nine innings throughout his career and has stuff that translates to being an ace moving forward.
Related: Updated MLB trade rumors
Chicago White Sox MLB trade deadline plans
Chicago has already moved All-Star starters Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn thus far this summer. It appears that trading from a position of perceived strength to add to the farm system has been a goal for Hahn and Co.
A previous report also suggested that Chicago might be willing to listen to offers for stud young outfielder Luis Robert. But with him under team control through the 2027 campaign, that doesn’t make much sense.
We’ve seen teams acquire huge capital for starting pitchers leading up to Tuesday’s trade deadline. Cease would likely net the most given his track record and contract status. Whether that happens remains to be seen.