White Sox: 3 teams that must trade for Dylan Cease this off-season
The Chicago White Sox are not a good baseball team and everyone knows that by now. They went from having the brightest future of any pro sports team in Chicago to the bleakest in a matter of a year. It was truly no fun watching them play baseball this year.
One of the biggest reasons for their struggles this year was the play of Dylan Cease. They needed him to be that ace he became in 2022 and he was anything but. Still, everyone knows how good he can be at the top of his game which he did show in 2023 from time to time.
Other teams out there know that Cease is an elite pitcher too because a few of them wanted to trade for him ahead of the trade deadline. There might even be a team or two that strongly regret not trading for him. Now, you might see him go during the off-season.
Every team needs more pitching. There are a few, however, that should be looking to trade for Cease as soon as they can. These are the three teams that make the most sense right now:
1. Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles need a new starting pitcher like Dylan Cease.
The Baltimore Orioles were one of the best teams in Major League Baseball this season. In fact, they were the number one seed in the American League playoffs because of their 101-61 record. They were one of only three teams to win 100 or more games this season.
They had one flaw, however, as their starting pitching wasn't deep enough to make them a real threat. Their offense and bullpen were more than good enough during the regular season but pitching is king in the playoffs. They need Dylan Cease.
The Orioles have what it takes to trade for Cease too which is what separates them from a lot of teams. The White Sox could get a great return in a fair trade so they need to consider it.
2. Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners need a spark for their team in 2024 after a bad 2023.
The Seattle Mariners were one of the most disappointing teams in Major League Baseball this season. They had an okay year as their record was 88-74. They were 2.0 games out of first place in the AL West which turned out to be a good division.
However, that record came up just short of the American League playoffs. They had a better record than the AL Central Champion Minnesota Twins but making the playoffs is all anyone is judged by. The Mariners want to make sure they can make things better this off-season.
Now, the Mariners are nowhere near as disappointing as the White Sox. Unlike Chicago, Seattle will make smart decisions to try and fix things. They won't be cheap and pretend like doing the bare minimum is enough.
Seattle would be perfect for a pitcher like Cease. He'd be able to go there, get run support, and not be the only good starting pitcher on the staff. They would give him the tools needed to get back to his elite level right away. This is one of the most desirable destinations for Cease at this point.
3. Milwaukee Brewers
The Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers make a lot of sense for a trade.
The Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers aren't that far away from each other. They also have made some trades in the past and now would be great partners to do so again.
Milwaukee won the NL Central Division but was bounced out by being swept in the Wild Card round. Now, they are picking up the pieces and looking to be ready for another competitive year in 2024. They need a lot of work.
There is a bit of an issue for them right now though. Brandon Woodruff is going to miss most (if not all) of the 2024 season which is going to take a big hit to their starting rotation. The Brewers rely a lot on pitching so this is a big loss for them.
This team needs to make a huge addition to replace Woodruff while he is away. The nice thing about them potentially trading for Cease would be that they'd get to keep him long after Woodruff comes back if they want. It is a no-brainer for both sides.
It is a shame that we are talking about this at the end of the year instead of winning plans but that is what the White Sox are right now. Until they become a better/smarter organization, this is it.
Next. The 15 worst contracts in Chicago White Sox history. dark