It was reported by MLB Network’s Jon Morosi yesterday that talks between the White Sox and inquiring teams on Dylan Cease have heated up over the last few days, and that a deal could come to fruition before MLB’s Winter Meetings, which begin on Sunday, December 3rd and end on December 6th. Morosi also included the Atlanta Braves are considered one of the “finalists” for the White Sox ace.
Sources: Dylan Cease trade talks have intensified in the last 48 hours, and some people close to the negotiations believe a deal *before* the winter meetings is increasingly possible.
Cease’s hometown Braves are among the finalists. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 29, 2023
Dylan Cease to the Braves would be a slam dunk acquisition for Alex Anthopoulos, who is leaving no stone unturned in his search for a frontline starting pitcher this offseason.
However, not just any starting pitcher, Anthopoulos seems to have a type this winter, looking for an arm that is durable and will be effective when October arrives. The Braves reportedly went hard after Aaron Nola, who is the definition of a workhorse on the mound, before he re-upped with the Phillies for seven years, $172 million.
Dylan Cease may not quite be in the same category, but he’s made at least 32 starts in each of the last three seasons and never pitched less than 165 innings. Cease is also a couple of years younger than Nola and has a bit more upside. Slotting him in alongside Spencer Strider, Max Fried, and Charlie Morton would be a dream for any general manager.
New White Sox general manager Chris Getz is telling clubs he likely will wait to move on right-hander Dylan Cease until after the top free-agent starting pitchers sign, according to major-league sources briefed on the discussions.
Getz could act sooner if gets an offer to his liking, perhaps from a team such as the Orioles or Reds, who are expected to refrain from the top of the free-agent market. But the advantage of waiting is obvious: The urgency of certain teams only will increase if they miss out on Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Co. Some clubs face such an acute shortage, they might be in on Cease even if they sign a top free agent.
The White Sox are in an advantageous position. Every competing team is looking for starting pitching, and while there are other potential aces on the trade market, none of them come with multiple years of control like Dylan Cease.
With four months until the start of the regular season, there’s no reason for Chris Getz to rush things. The Braves would have to blow him away with an offer, and I’m not even sure they have the prospect capital to do that, especially if they don’t want to include both AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep.
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Photo: Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire
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