Does This Cease Trade Scenario Make Sense for Orioles?

The Baltimore Orioles might have to pay a significant price to acquire a pitcher like Dylan Cease.

At least on paper, the Baltimore Orioles have a starting rotation to roll with for the 2024 season. But all are young and while they are undeniably talented, a veteran starter to give the rotation some additional heft might be welcome.

The Orioles have been judicious in free agency to this point. Their only major signing was closer Craig Kimbrel to a one-year deal, a placeholder while closer Félix Bautista recovers from Tommy John surgery.

Plus, there are rumors of a potential sale of the Orioles, and the team may wish to avoid spending too much money until any sale is completed.

Add to it the O’s bushels of talent in the farm system and one could see the Orioles believing they have the talent they need. After all, the O’s won 101 games in 2023. But they also did that with a veteran starter in Kyle Gibson.

That’s why this offseason Chicago White Sox starter Dylan Cease has been a popular name in the rumor mill. Cease has two remaining controllable years before he hits free agency and new White Sox general manager Chris Getz has said everyone is available.

So why not make a deal for a right-hander who finished second in Cy Young voting in 2022 after going 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA? He has a 43-35 career record with a 3.83 ERA and strikes out 10.8 hitters per nine innings leading the AL in the category in 2021 (12.3).

He fits. But if the Orioles were to make a serious offer, what would it take?

MLB.com dove into six different trade scenarios recently and the site considers the Orioles to be the “obvious” fit. The site sees a deal for a player like Cease as a potential “final piece” and a more likely move for the O’s, who could use their prospect capital with the game’s No. 1 farm system as opposed to spending big money.

So, the O’s would get Cease. Who would the White Sox get?

In this scenario, the White Sox would get three Top 30 Orioles prospects — catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo (who is also a Top 100 prospect in baseball), second baseman/outfielder Connor Norby and left-handed pitcher Cade Povich. The White Sox would also get infielder Ramón Urías.

So would that be enough? MLB.com hypothesizes that it might not be enough for the White Sox. They see Chicago as saying no to a deal unless one of the pieces is one of two Orioles prospects — outfielder Heston Kjerstad or corner infielder Coby Mayo.

Cease’s team control is what makes him an enticing trade piece — and a reason why the White Sox are asking for so much in return. If the Orioles are willing to spend the prospects, Cease could be theirs for the next two seasons.