Dodgers News: MLB Insider Gives ‘60%’ Chance Ace Trade Target Gets Moved This Offseason
Recently, there has been speculation that the Los Angeles Dodgers would make a move to acquire one starting pitcher via trade this offseason. Now, an MLB Insider predicts there is a 60% possibility that the Dodgers could pull off the deal.
Earlier this week, Jon Heyman of the New York Post said that there is a possibility that the Dodgers and Chicago White Sox could make a blockbuster deal that would send 2022 Cy Young runner-up Dylan Cease as the White Sox are having a fire sale on some star players this offseason.
“The White Sox are telling teams everyone is available, and they’ve talked seriously on Cease, who has enormous value. He’s very dependable (no missed starts three straight years), has ace talent (a 2.20 ERA in 2022) and is two years from free agency. The White Sox lost 101 games, and while the Orioles and Diamondbacks showed us how to transform into a playoff team two years after losing 100 games, it’s still unlikely. Odds to be traded: 60 percent.”
With the White Sox having a fire sale this offseason, the possibility of a trade between the two teams should be highly likely as they have been trade partners in the past.
Before the MLB trade deadline this past season, the Dodgers and White Sox made a blockbuster deal just moments before the deadline hit as they acquired starting pitcher Lance Lynn and former Dodger relief pitcher Joe Kelly in exchange for Trayce Thompson, Nick Nastrinin, and Jordan Leasure.
Cease is a former 2022 AL Cy Young runner-up just behind Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros.
In 2022, Cease was third in the MLB with a 2.20 ERA and held a record of 14-8 while pitching in a career-high 184 innings.
Right now, Cease is coming off a down year as he finished with a 4-7 record and a 4.58 ERA but still managed to strike out over 200 batters for the third straight year.
As of right now, the Dodgers starting rotation will include just Bobby Miller and Walker Buehler. Acquiring Cease would put together a key piece of this year's rotation as he could come in and immediately command the staff as the ace.
If the White Sox indeed are willing to move on from Cease, the Dodgers are the perfect partner as Baseball America has them ranked with the number one farm system in baseball.
