REPORTS: Atlanta Braves a finalist for Dylan Cease, who might be moved before the Winter Meetings

The stove is about to go from hot to scorching.

Per MLB Network's Jon Morosi, a Dylan Cease trade from the Chicago White Sox is imminent and the Atlanta Braves are not only still in the running, they're a finalist.

Sources: Dylan Cease trade talks have intensified in the last 48 hours, and some people close to the negotiations believe a deal *before* the winter meetings is increasingly possible.

Cease’s hometown Braves are among the finalists. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 29, 2023

Cease, 27, was born in Milton, GA and lives in the Atlanta area in the offseason.

Seen as one of the more desirable starting pitchers on the trade market thanks to his two years of team control, Cease has a career 3.83 ERA across his 123 career starts for the White Sox, spanning parts of five seasons. His best performance was in 2022, where he was the runner-up for AL Cy Young after going 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA in his 32 starts, including a complete game shutout.

In 2023, with the team's record slipping, Cease's conventional stats took a hit. He finished with a 7-9 record and 4.58 ERA (although a more palatable 3.72 FIP), albeit with very similar rate metrics - strikeout, walk, and homers - to his 2022 Cy Young season.

Multiple teams have been reported to be interested in acquiring Cease, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles reported to be some of the most aggressive.

It's unknown whether Atlanta will be able to sign Cease to a long-term extension after the trade, as they frequently do with many of their trade acquisitions. Represented by super-agent Scott Boras, the expectation across baseball is that Cease will head to free agency in two seasons and at least test the market, even if he open to returning.

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