Dylan Cease would be the top pitcher available on the MLB trade block if the Chicago White Sox made the 27-year-old starter available to contending teams.
While Chicago is potentially headed for a fire sale ahead of the Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline, there have been no real indications that the 2022 American League Cy Young runner-up is available.
That’s not stopping the defending World Series champion Houston Astros from looking into this possibility.
According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Astros would love to add Cease to the mix ahead of the deadline. The insider notes that he’s a “dream scenario” for general manager Dana Brown and Co. while also claiming that Houston knows Chicago’s asking price will be huge for the top-of-the-rotation starter.
It’s not really a surprise that Houston would have interest in Cease. Heck, pretty much every contending team will be interested if he’s put on the market.
Related: Updated MLB trade rumors
Dylan Cease stats (2023): 4-3 record, 4.18 ERA, 1.34 WHIP
While Cease has struggled to an extent this season, his performances in 2021 and 2022 were simply amazing. That two-year span saw the former Chicago Cubs draft pick combine for a 27-15 record while boasting a 3.01 ERA and 1.18 WHIP and striking out 11.7 batters per nine innings.
He finished second in the American League Cy Young voting behind Justin Verlander last season.
Under team control through the 2025 season, acquiring Cease would cost a mighty bounty. For the Houston Astros, that would likely include one of their top-four prospects as a centerpiece. Each one plays the outfield with No. 4 prospect Ryan Clifford seemingly the closest to the Majors.
What we do know is that the aforementioned Brown made it clear that Houston is in the market for a starting pitcher. It would take a lot. But acquiring Dylan Cease would set Houston up well to repeat as World Series champs.