According to MLB rumors, the Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles are currently considered the favorites to trade for Chicago White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease this offseason. The White Sox are reportedly shopping Cease, and these two teams seem to be leading the race for his services.
In the case of the Braves, they are said to be opening up space in their rotation after parting ways with pitchers Mike Soroka and Kyle Wright in previous trades. The projected rotation for the Braves in 2024 is expected to feature Spencer Strider, Max Fried, Bryce Elder, and Charlie Morton. If acquired, Cease could potentially fill the second or third spot in the Braves’ rotation. Despite a less-than-stellar 2023 season, Cease is considered to have significant talent that could be unlocked in a different organization. Additionally, Cease is a native of Milton, Georgia, which adds an interesting dynamic to the potential move, and the Braves have already added one of his White Sox teammates, reliever Aaron Bummer.
On the other hand, the Orioles, known for their strong lineup and bullpen, have reportedly faced questions regarding their starting rotation. Dylan Cease could potentially address some of those concerns and add depth to the Orioles’ pitching staff.
It’s worth noting that trade talks in baseball can be fluid, and the final outcome may depend on various factors, including the specific needs and negotiations of the teams involved.
The rotation currently features Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, John Means, Dean Kremer, and Tyler Wells. The O’s acquired Jack Flaherty from the St. Louis Cardinals ahead of the 2023 trade deadline, but Flaherty recently signed with the Detroit Tigers.
Cease owns a 3.54 ERA over the last three seasons. He has started 97 games and struck out 667 batters, tallying a 121 ERA+ as the White Sox went from up-and-coming playoff contender to one of the worst teams in the sport.
In addition to the Orioles and Braves, the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals have also been mentioned in the Cease trade sweepstakes.
