Rumored Red Sox Trade Target Reportedly Not Being Moved Despite Speculation

It sounds like another possible option for the Red Sox is off the market

The Boston Red Sox still need to add to the starting rotation and it sounds like another option may be off the table.

Boston has been linked to both free agents as well as possible trade candidates. The Red Sox signed Lucas Giolito earlier in the offseason but still have one or two holes left in the rotation after trading away Chris Sale. 

The Red Sox need to make a move but time is starting to run out. Players are starting to come off the market and another player who has been linked to Boston at one point may not be an option any longer.

Boston -- like many other clubs -- has been mentioned as a fit for Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease. The 28-year-old has been in trade rumors all offseason and it has seemed like a trade was a certainty. 

While this is the case, Cease may not actually end up being traded, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. 

"But some of the names many have expected to be moved this winter – namely Dylan Cease and Shane Bieber – remain with their long-time teams, leaving a couple of notable arms in limbo," Feinsand said. 

“I would say Cease doesn’t get moved at this point,” a (National League) executive said as transcribed by Feinsand. “The White Sox are not budging on price, and teams don’t seem to have interest in paying that price.”

Boston has the prospect capital needed to meet whatever Chicago's asking price is, but that is certainly unlikely. The Red Sox have made it known that top prospects Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, and Kyle Teel aren't going to be traded but it likely would take at least one or two of the trio to get a deal done with Chicago.

Cease no longer seems like an option for Boston. If the club wants to still improve the rotation, they need to move quickly before other options go off the market.

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