Rival Executives Predict That Ace Dylan Cease Will Stay with Chicago White Sox

With hours remaining until the Major League Baseball trade deadline, reports indicate that teams expect that ace Dylan Cease will end up staying with the Chicago White Sox.

While the Chicago White Sox have traded away Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly and Reynaldo Lopez this trade deadline season, rival executives apparently don't expect that they'll deal away ace pitcher Dylan Cease.

The following tweet comes from MLB Insider Jon Heyman:

The White Sox don’t generally designate anyone as completely untouchable but word is the package it would take to land Dylan Cease is understandably enormous, to the point rival teams predict he stays on the South Side

The White Sox don’t generally designate anyone as completely untouchable but word is the package it would take to land Dylan Cease is understandably enormous, to the point rival teams predict he stays on the South Side

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 1, 2023

That's understandable on multiple fronts.

1) Cease is under control for 2.5 more seasons. The White Sox are in no position to have to deal him, and if they see themselves being competitive in 2024 or 2025, then Cease can be a big part of that turnaround. They may simply think he's of more value to them by playing for them than by dealing him.

2) The White Sox could also re-evaluate the trade market in the offseason. Even after the season ends, he'll still have two years of team control left, so they'd still be able to get a good haul. If they want to open up the market to 29 other teams, they can do that in the offseason.

3) Cease is having a down year by his standards. He's just 4-4 with a 4.15 ERA. If they traded him now, they'd be selling low perhaps to the point that it makes more sense to look later (see No. 2).

The trade deadline is Tuesday night at 6 p.m. ET.

Follow Fastball on FanNation on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by LIKING us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.You can also subscribe to "The Payoff Pitch" podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.