CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 29: Starting pitcher Dylan Cease #84 of the Chicago White Sox throws in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 29, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly in negotiations to acquire pitcher Dylan Cease from the Chicago White Sox.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the Dodgers are determined to improve their starting pitching rotation this offseason, and the White Sox are willing to part with Cease as they embark on a roster retooling.
"I've made it very clear that the White Sox are willing to listen in on any of our players," White Sox general manager Chris Getz said.
Cease, 27, is coming off a disappointing 2023 that saw him compile a 7-9 record with a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. While he remained a prolific strikeout artist, fanning 214 batters in 177 innings, he consistently left balls out over the plate to get rocked. His hard-hit percentage of 41.6 was more than 10 percent higher than the previous season.
With two more years of team control remaining, Cease remains a valuable commodity but the asking price is likely far less than it was this time a year ago.
The Dodgers are expected to dip their toe into the water in nearly every high-profile pitching free agent. They've been regularly mentioned as a favorite to land two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, but he will not pitch again until the 2025 season.
It's a virtual certainty that the Dodgers will seek out another high-level ace, even if they're able to ink Ohtani. Money isn't an object to one of baseball's richest clubs and ownership groups, and the front office has done a nice job of ridding some unnecessary salary in recent offseasons.
With the Dodgers once again falling short in the postseason thanks to disappointing pitching, don't be surprised if we see some headline-making moves coming out of Southern California this winter.
The 2023-24 MLB offseason has begun. Here's everything you need to know.
MLB Trade Rumors: White Sox Willing to Listen to Calls on Dylan Cease
Nov 6, 2023
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 29: Starting pitcher Dylan Cease #84 of the Chicago White Sox throws in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 29, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Chicago White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease could be on the move this offseason.
While the White Sox aren't shopping the 27-year-old, the front office has told opposing teams that they will listen to trade offers (per Bob Nightengale of USA Today).
Cease had a bit of a down year in 2023, recording a 4.58 ERA in an American League-leading 33 starts. However, he compiled an ERA of 2.20 in 2022 while finishing second in AL Cy Young voting.
Despite his down year, Cease's phenomenal 2022 season could convince opposing teams that he's in line for a bounce-back in 2024. He's also been very durable, pitching at least 165 total innings while recording at least 210 strikeouts in each of the past three years.
It's worth noting that Cease ended this past season on a high note. In five Sept. starts, he racked up 38 strikeouts in 28.2 innings while recording a 2.83 ERA.
This included an outing against the Boston Red Sox in which Cease struck out a season-high 11 batters without allowing a run.
Following the game, he discussed the reason behind his uneven year.
"If I had to guess, there's probably a high level of scouting and preparation for my starts," he said, via Scott Merkin of MLB.com. "But if I go out and execute like this, there's only so much you can prepare for. The biggest thing is just finding a way to be consistent as I was today. If I take that into every start, it's going to be good."
Cease's name was popular prior to the MLB's trade deadline on Aug. 1, although he ultimately remained with the White Sox.
While Chicago's front office has declined trade offers for the former sixth-round pick in the past, there's a possibility that he could be suiting up for a different organization in 2024.
