Could Orioles Pull Off Another Blockbuster Trade to Land Second Ace?
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Coming into the offseason, the Baltimore Orioles had the goal of landing an ace to pair with the tandem of their young starters at the top of their rotation.
They accomplished that by pulling off a blockbuster deal to acquire Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers.
This gives them a major chance to compete in the playoffs this year with the ultimate goal of them winning their first World Series championship since 1983.
Even though they accomplished their goal, the Orioles could still pull off another major move and it might be for their past rumored target.
"... Teams are still calling. They are still trying to work on a deal that works for both sides. If there's a match somewhere, we'll do it," Chicago White Sox general manager said on SiriusXM's MLB Network Radio.
Of course, Baltimore is familiar with the trade package that the White Sox are looking for. They had previous negotiations focused on landing Cease, but both parties couldn't come to an agreement.
Even after trading for Burnes, the Orioles still have plenty of talent in their farm system that could get Cease onto their roster.
Whether the front office feels like it's necessary to give up so much talent for another starter is a different story.
General manager Mike Elias has been very cautious when doing trades and doesn't take shipping out talented youngsters lightly.
Acquiring Burnes gives Baltimore flexibility to go after another blockbuster trade like this one, but they also aren't desperate to land someone and don't need to overpay.
Chicago is comfortable having Cease on their roster to start the season. They're not going to force a trade either.
The Orioles already pulled off one shocking deal. If they're able to do it again, it's hard to not look at them as World Series favorites.
