With the outlook on New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole cloudy at best due to an elbow injury, a new report claims the team has restarted trade talks to replace him with Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease.
On Monday, Yankees nation received horrifying news when it was revealed that reigning American League Cy Young Gerrit Cole was set to undergo an MRI related to a developing issue in his pitching elbow. With the news coming out of nowhere, many in the fanbase are fearing the worst. The situation wasn’t helped when it was revealed that he would undergo even more tests before a final decision was made about his future.
If Cole is unable to pitch in 2024, the lofty hopes the organization had of getting back to the World Series will likely go down the toilet if they no longer have the best pitcher in the AL in their rotation. The report led to speculation that the front office could either restart talks with free agent All-Star Blake Snell or take a flier on disgraced former Los Angeles Dodgers ace Trevor Bauer.
Well, it seems the team has indeed restarted previous negotiations. But it is not for Snell. On Tuesday, USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale reported that “The Yankees, while awaiting news on Gerrit Cole, have re-engaged with the Chicago White Sox and made a new proposal for ace Dylan Cease.”
- Dylan Cease stats (2023): 7-9 record, 4.58 ERA, 1.418 WHIP, 214 SO, 79 BB
That is massive news for New York fans. While Cease is not at the level of Cole, he is a former Cy Young runner-up who has the potential to be a legitimate ace on a Yankees roster that is set to have a very powerful offense in 2024.
The two sides had conversations during the offseason, but just like every other club that talked to Chicago, the asking price was too high for the New York Yankees. Nightengale also added that just like earlier this year, the new offer to the White Sox does not include top prospect Spencer Jones.
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