Since the start of the offseason in November, starting pitcher Dylan Cease has been linked to a trade with the Chicago White Sox. Not a single trade has been made as spring training approaches in a matter of weeks. It’s not as though there aren’t any teams that seem like a good fit.
That team is the Orioles of Baltimore. Numerous speculative trade offers have sent Cease to different teams. Manny Randhawa of MLB.com originally proposed the following trade scenario back on January 6, which would have sent the right-hander to Baltimore in a five-player deal:
Received by Orioles: RHP Dylan Cease
The following players are acquired by the White Sox in this hypothetical trade package: left-handed pitcher Cade Povich, infielder Ramón UrÃas, catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo, second baseman/outfielder Connor Norby, and UrÃas, the sole big leaguer. Based on MLB.com’s 2023 rankings, the Orioles’ top 15 prospects included Basallo (ranked fifth), Norby (ranked seventh), and Povich (ranked eleventh).
On January 27, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com spoke with an unidentified American League executive about what they believed Baltimore still needed to do this winter. “A starting pitcher is still needed by the Orioles,” they declared. “They have an amazing young core and had a great year [in 2023], but if they hope to repeat as AL East champions, adding a veteran starter would go a long way.”
Orioles May Need An Additional Arm During Their Rotation
The Orioles just finished 2023 with 101 wins. This winter, their only significant offseason action has been made. It involved agreeing to a $13 million, one-year contract with reliever Craig Kimbrel. Still, Baltimore’s rotation lost a player who hasn’t been replaced yet.
The club’s Opening Day starting lineup features Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, John Means, Dean Kremer, and Tyler Wells, according FanGraphs’ Roster Resource. Kyle Gibson is the one prominent name that is absent. Following a reliable season with the Orioles, he inked a one-year, $12 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Although his 4.73 ERA and 1.32 WHIP don’t immediately stand out, he was a seasoned pitcher who threw 192 innings in 33 starts, earning a 15-9 record. Based on FanGraphs’ depth-chart estimates, the Orioles starting rotation should generate 10.3 WAR in 2024 as it stands. In baseball, that is the seventh-lowest score. No rotation in the AL East is projected lower. The Boston Red Sox, at 11.9 WAR, are the next closest team.
According to Spotrac, the Orioles have the second-lowest salary in MLB going into 2024. They also boast an exceptional talent-filled, well-respected farm system. Whether through trade or free agency, Baltimore appears capable of making a significant acquisition if there is incentive to do so.
Feinsand was informed by an unidentified National League executive as to why that might not occur. They stated, “That [Cease] would make sense for them.” However, I’m not sure if they are under the same pressure to act as the larger markets are. I’m not sure if their fans would be as angry if they didn’t utilize it, but they could.
There’s No Trade Rush for the White Sox Dylan Cease Throughout the winter, trade rumors about him have circulated. Clearly, the White Sox are not in a rush to reach an agreement. They also have a few valid explanations for this.
The pitcher won’t put a significant financial strain on Chicago’s salary in 2024. The pitcher, who avoided arbitration, will earn $8 million this next season. Additionally, for the following two years, he will be managed by the team. Therefore, dangling the right-hander until the trade deadline or possibly next winter should still result in a sizable return, even if the White Sox decide to hang onto him.
Scott Merkin of MLB.com reported on January 26 that Cease had already been selected the starting pitcher for Opening Day by manager Pedro Grifol. Therefore, Cease will stay in the Windy City for the time being until something significant occurs in the upcoming weeks. Regretfully, trade rumors containing his name will undoubtedly come next.
Matt Musico has been writing about baseball for the past ten years and covers Major League Baseball for Heavy.com. In addition to being the inventor of MLB Daily Dingers, he has had his work highlighted on Bleacher Report, Elite Sports NY, numberFire, MLB Trade Rumors, and Yahoo! Sports. Further information regarding