Dylan Cease Trade Rumors: Latest on Yankees, Cubs, More amid White Sox Contract Buzz

As the free-agent pitching market starts to pick up, the Chicago White Sox may not be in a rush to trade Dylan Cease before the start of the season.

Per ESPN's Jesse Rogers, there is "more of a sense" now that White Sox general manager Chris Getz could keep the right-hander to begin the 2024 campaign with the idea of moving him at the trade deadline or later because he doesn't want to rush a significant deal.

As for the teams that could make a strong offer to the White Sox, it appears that market might be dwindling because of the high asking price.

Rogers noted the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs are both unlikely to deal for Cease right now because Getz wants "multiple high-end prospects (one won't be enough) and some 'fill-ins,'" but they are reluctant to give up that much.

The Yankees already traded away several young players to acquire Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres, though they did keep their top three prospects in that deal.

Rogers reported on Tuesday that the Cubs were nearing an agreement with Shōta Imanaga, so their interest in adding another starter via trade may not be as high as it was.

The Cincinnati Reds are another team that expressed interest in Cease earlier this offseason. Since that time, though, they have signed Jeimer Candelario, Frankie Montas, Nick Martinez and Emilio Pagan.

While none of those contracts is of significant value, the Reds aren't a team that likes to make an all-in move. They do have a surplus of high-upside players on the infield to build an attractive package for Cease, but Rogers noted their previous moves could mark the end of their major offseason additions.

The one team looming out there with both the need for a top-of-the-rotation starter and prospect package to make an offer that would entice the White Sox are the Baltimore Orioles.

Even with all of the young players they had debut last season, the Orioles still own the best farm system in MLB. Jackson Holliday, the No. 1 overall prospect, would presumably be off the table in any trade talks.

But MLB.com also ranks Colton Cowser, Heston Kjerstad, Coby Mayo and Samuel Basallo as top-50 prospects.

One front office executive told Rogers the Orioles "could use Cease more than the White Sox right now." They won 101 games last season with Kyle Gibson leading their rotation in innings pitched.

Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez both had very good performances in 2023. They are going to be important pitchers for the Orioles this season, but Cease would be the potential No. 1 starter they need to challenge for a World Series.

Cease's 4.58 ERA last season was inflated because Chicago's defense was the worst in MLB. He had 214 strikeouts in 33 starts. It was his third consecutive year with at least 200 strikeouts.

The Orioles haven't had a pitcher record at least 200 strikeouts in a season since Érik Bédard in 2007.

Getz and the White Sox are operating from a position of power because Cease has two more years of team control before hitting free agency after the 2025 season. They need to hit big on this trade if it happens coming off 101 losses in 2023, so getting as many potential suitors involved as possible is in their best interest.