Chicago White Sox' Trade Chip Will Likely Serve as Opening Day Starter, Won't Be Dealt Right Away

After an offseason of trade discussion, it looks as if the Chicago White Sox will hold onto starting pitcher Dylan Cease. However, they could deal him at any point prior to the trade deadline.

After an offseason of trade discussions, it looks as if the Chicago White Sox are prepared to hold onto starting pitcher Dylan Cease.

Though he'll likely start the season on the roster and will serve as the team's Opening Day pitcher, he could still very well be traded during the season. We have heard him connected to the New York Yankees and St. Lous Cardinals, among others, this offseason.

Per the Chicago Sun-Times:

Dylan Cease makes his second start of the spring Thursday, and the expectation in White Sox camp is that he’ll make one at Guaranteed Rate Field on March 28, when the regular season opens against the Tigers.

While Cease remains on the trade block, “we still have people checking in, and as we go into the season, we’ll have people continuing to do that,” assistant general manager Josh Barfield told the Sun-Times on Wednesday. “There’s nothing imminent with him. We’re preparing him to be the Opening Day starter.”

The 27-year-old Cease has two years left on his rookie contract so the White Sox aren't forced into making a move that they don't like. There should still be plenty of interest in Cease at the trade deadline and the Sox may in fact be able to get a better haul then. However, there's always the risk that Cease underperforms or gets injured and that's the balancing act that new general manager Chris Getz has been navigating all offseason.

Cease struggled in 2023, just as the White Sox did, as they finished fourth in the American League Central.

He went 7-9 with a 4.58 ERA last year but is still an elite strikeout artist, fanning 214 batters in 177.0 innings. Lifetime, he's 43-35 with a 4.58 ERA and he did finish second in the AL Cy Young voting in 2022. 

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