3 Braves prospects the White Sox should target in a Dylan Cease trade
The Chicago White Sox should be looking to trade for great young talent.
The Chicago White Sox might be a team looking for help with their future. After going 61-101 in what was supposed to be a contending year, there is a lot of work that needs to be done for this team back on track.
One thing that they might do is trade Dylan Cease. They almost traded Cease during the regular season but it never happened. Now, the rumors are swirling about what may happen with him now
In 2022, Cease was the runner-up for the American League Cy Young Award. He had a 2.20 ERA to go with his 14-8 record and 227 strikeouts in 184.0 innings pitched. It was a phenomenal year for him. In 2023, he had 214 strikeouts in 177.0 innings pitched which is great but his ERA of 4.53 and record of 7-9 was a major letdown based on his performance from the year before.
The Chicago White Sox may have to trade Dylan Cease this off-season
The White Sox were way worse as a team in 2023 which didn't help, but Cease came back down to earth for sure. Cease did have a strong end to the season as he gave up just five runs over his final four starts so there is still something elite in there. Given the expected return in a trade, It might be time for the White Sox to move him.
A team that makes a lot of sense for Cease right now is the Atlanta Braves. This is a franchise that has been elite for a few years but has struggled in the playoffs ever since winning the World Series in 2021. They could use a cost controlled pitcher like Cease right now.
The White Sox should not trade Cease unless they get a very good return for him. Here are some of the Braves prospects that Chicago should be targeting if a Cease trade were to come to pass.
AJ Smith-Shawver is someone to look for in a Dylan Cease trade
The number one prospect in the Atlanta Braves system is AJ Smith-Shawver. He is a right-handed pitcher who now already has his MLB debut under his belt. He is 21 years old and has an incredibly high ceiling thanks to his high octane fastball and quality stuff across the board.
After a meteoric rise through the Braves' minor league system despite the fact that he only just turned 21 years old, Smith-Shawver played in six games for the Braves last season and five of them were starts. He went 25.1 innings pitched with a 1-0 record, 4.26 ERA, a 1.105 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts.
It has been a nice little run for him as he looks to become a dominant starter in the big leagues. The early signs are good but he has a lot more to prove over time. This is just the kind of player that the White Sox should be targeting in a Cease trade. If they can't get guys like the ones on this list, they should hang up the phone.
Everyone knows Cease would go to a team like the Braves and dominate because they have the resources and data to get the most out of these guys. The White Sox are just hoping for good prospects back and Smith Shawver is a great one.
Hurston Waldrep would make a lot of sense for the Chicago White Sox
At number two is Hurston Waldrep. He is a strong right-handed pitcher who has nasty stuff that can be at the front of a rotation, but who he is still working on improving his command. Waldrep was drafted in 2023 in the first round (24th overall) by Atlanta which is a tad lower than where most mock drafts had him going ahead of the 2023 draft.
In 2023, he played in A, A+, AA, and AAA. In 8 total starts, he had an ERA of 1.53. He struck out 41 batters in 29.0 innings pitched. He allowed 11 walks which is something that he is working on cleaning up. For being 21 years old, he has a lot of upside and is already off to a great start.
The White Sox would love to add a pitching prospect like this to the mix. Dylan Cease's spot in the organization can be replaced with a guy like this but it would take some time for him to reach that high-end starter status. Assuming he can throw some more strikes, Waldrep's fastball/splitter combo could be a dominant force in Chicago's rotation for years to come.
If the Braves are willing to move some prospects in a deal like this, Waldrep is one to consider. His numbers are very good, he is young, and the White Sox could end up liking his long-term future a lot. If he can work on that control a little, his stuff will take care of the rest.
Cade Kuehler is someone that the Chicago White Sox should target
Cade Kuehler is the number four guy in the Braves' system, but he makes sense as one of the three to consider because of his age. Kuehler ended the season in A and is a right-handed pitcher. Just like the other two pitchers mentioned, he is 21 years old. A young pitcher like him is someone the White Sox have a better chance of developing properly.
In 2023, he was drafted by Atlanta and he joined the organization with high hopes. He made his way to A-ball and made two starts and he pitched in 7.0 innings and only gave up one hit, four walks, and no runs. It is a good start, but he has a long way to go. One reason to get excited about Kuehler is that he checks a lot of boxes when it comes to analytics as his fastball and slider both grade out very well.
If the White Sox traded Cease for a prospect like this, it would be a while before the payoff but the return could come back to look awesome in a few years. Kuehler is a good player and the White Sox might want to think about making sure he is coming back if they trade for Cease.
A return for Cease isn't going to be just one or two players so there are other prospects to consider but these three might be centers of a trade. If they could somehow land two of the three, that would be even better. A trade like this could work out for both sides.
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