MLB teams looking to improve the top of their starting rotation this offseason have been met with few options. As the league waits out Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s free agency decision to help set more dominoes in motion, others are keeping a close watch on the trade market.
The Los Angeles Dodgers struck early by landing Tyler Glasnow to help inject another high-potential arm into their rotation, but there are a few more names frequently tossed around in trade rumors this offseason.
Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes is one, but there’s no guarantee the Brewers are ready to move on from their Cy Young winner.
Another potential option, one that appears much more likely to be dealt, is Chicago’s Dylan Cease.
His name has been mentioned in White Sox trade rumors all offseason. Recently, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand had multiple sources indicate Cease was expected to be traded, with several teams already expressing interest. Now, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal says, “At some point, Dylan Cease is going to be traded.”
Several teams could use an impact starter like Cease, who finished as the AL Cy Young runner-up in 2022 with an ERA of just 2.20. Still just 27, Cease is under team control through the 2025 season before entering free agency in 2026.
That type of production, combined with his contract length, is rare to find on the open market, but if there’s a team willing to blow the White Sox away with an offer, they could add a pitcher who could develop into one of the very best in baseball.
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