The New York Yankees are reportedly still interested in making a trade for Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease before spring training, but only if their top prospect is left out of any potential deal.
The early stages of spring training have begun around MLB with pitchers and catchers from all 30 MLB teams already down south in preparation for the 2024 season. The Yankees close the winter with a lot of hope that they can have a bounce-back season after surprisingly finishing fourth in the American League East in 2023.
This winter they made several impact moves, including a blockbuster trade for All-Star Juan Soto and a team-friendly free-agent deal with starting pitcher Marcus Stroman. However, it was recently revealed that the organization would have preferred to add a top-line pitcher this winter. Well, there still is a chance they could before the start of the season.
- Dylan Cease stats (2023): 7-9 Record, 4.58 ERA, 1.418 WHIP, 214 SO, 177.0 IP
New York Yankees unwilling to part with Spencer Jones in a Dylan Cease trade
On Sunday, USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale revealed an interesting bit of new intel on the possibility of the Yankees adding an ace soon. “The New York Yankees are still open to acquiring Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease,” Nightengale claimed.
However, there is a hold-up to a potential deal. “[The Yankees] refuse to part with prized outfield prospect Spencer Jones. They also rebuffed the Milwaukee Brewers’ request for Jones before the Brewers sent Corbin Burnes to Baltimore,” the MLB insider wrote.
In 2023, Jones was ranked No. 1 on MLB.com in New York’s farm system. If they were unwilling to give him up for Soto, they surely won’t for a player who has never been an All-Star. The White Sox’s asking price for the 2022 Cy Young candidate has reportedly been high and the same offer that helped the Orioles get Corbin Burnes was not enough to get Cease from Chicago.