Key Takeaways:
– San Diego Padres show interest in Chicago White Sox’s ace Dylan Cease.
– Blake Snell, 2023 Cy Young Award winner likely to miss 2024 due to exploring free agency.
– Dylan Cease’s trade potential increases due to his club control in 2025.
The San Diego Padres are reportedly considering picking up Dylan Cease, ace of the Chicago White Sox, ahead of their regular season opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This information comes as the Padres announced that their starter for the opening will be Yu Darvish.
Talks of Dylan Cease Trade
According to a tweet by MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, conversations involving a Dylan Cease trade have been ongoing and a substantial number have occurred with the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees. This has sparked the speculation that an agreement may be close. In his tweet, Morosi reported “@670TheScore @nbcsandiego…Been in talks… Opening Day.”
The Padres, unfortunately, will be lacking the prowess of the 2023 Cy Young Award winner, Blake Snell, in 2024. This predicament is due to Snell currently considering free agency.
White Sox’s Posture
Although the Chicago White Sox considered trading Cease earlier, USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale reported that they held off, instead opting to wait for the July 30 deadline. In fact, according to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin, upon being questioned if Cease would be the club’s opening day starter, White Sox’s coach Pedro Grifol responded, “I don’t know. How am I supposed to know that?”
Beyond the Padres, the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers are also reportedly considering a Cease trade. On March 12, Nightengale mentioned that the Yankees made a “new proposal” for Cease. Nevertheless, unless significant offers are made, the White Sox might delay the trade until the deadline.
Trade Market and Cease Trade Package
With one more arbitration-eligible season, the 28-year-old Cease is handsomely placed in the trade market. Considering this, any club obtaining Cease would maintain control in 2025 while his pay in 2024 stands at a reasonable $8 million. This factor makes Cease invaluable.
Regarding the asking price for Cease, there have been references to a possible amount. Jon Heyman of the New York Post indicated that the Sox may be looking at a compensation similar to what the Brewers got for Corbin Burnes, “maybe one and a half times”.
Cease’s Career and Value Proposition
Whichever club lands Cease will be availing a commendable track record. With a five-season ERA of 3.83 as a White Sox, Cease holds an impressive professional record. He ended the 2022 season third in the league with a 2.20 ERA and 227 strikeouts to his name, giving him a spot at No. 2 in the AL. His performance trailed only marginally in 2023, ending at No. 5 in the AL and No. 8 in the majors with 214 strikeouts.
As clubs tally potential deals, Cease’s value proposition of being a cost-effective top ten pitcher potentially makes him a hot property in the current trade market. It is, therefore, unsurprising that clubs like the Padres, Yankees, and Rangers are considering bringing him in, with his future indeed looking promising.
Club-wise Strategizing
For the Padres, the loss of Snell to free agency is prompting them to consider alternative strategies. Bringing in Cease could be part of that plan, providing an effective counterbalance to Snell’s absence. How this situation unfolds will undoubtedly be a hot topic as the regular season approaches.
Although the White Sox are in no rush to trade Cease, the right offer could change that. With several clubs displaying keen interest, eyes will be on the outcome as the trading deadline looms closer. This scenario opens up exciting possibilities and will undoubtedly shape Dylan Cease’s future trajectory in Major League Baseball.