The Braves and Orioles are the current favorites to get Cease. MLB Insider Bob Nightengale dropped a few notes at the bottom of his most recent USA Today story, which are easy to miss if you’re just reading the bottom of the page, but there are a few interesting morsels there. Nightengale revealed that “Atlanta and Baltimore are the current favorites to acquire Cease.”
The Atlanta Braves have repeatedly been associated with Dylan Cease during this off-season, generating considerable buzz among Braves enthusiasts for a month or more. To acquire Cease, Atlanta would need to engage in a trade, and speculation suggests that the asking price for him has been notably high. The question arises: How much value would Cease bring to the Braves’ General Manager Alex Anthopoulos (AA)? Is he worth sacrificing either A.J. Smith-Shawver or Bryce Elder along with Hurston Waldrep?
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It’s important to note that even if the Braves trade for Cease, their control over him would extend only until 2026, at which point he will become an unrestricted free agent, likely sparking a competitive bidding war for his services. Despite Cease’s 2023 season ending with a modest 7-9 record and a 4.58 ERA, these statistics don’t fully capture his potential due to his impressive pitching abilities.
Reflecting on Cease’s performance in 2022 paints a different picture, with a stellar 14-8 record accompanied by a remarkable 2.20 ERA. During that season, he struck out 219 batters while issuing 79 walks across 177 innings. Determining Cease’s worth hinges on the cost of acquiring him. However, it’s hard to disregard the allure of adding Cease to a pitching rotation already featuring Fried, Strider, and Morton.
