Could This Orioles' Trade Package Land White Sox Ace Cease?
After early speculations suggested the Baltimore Orioles might become spenders this offseason, that has not happened.
Despite signing Craig Kimbrel to a one-year, $13 million contract with a club option for year two, the front office has operated in the same conservative manner they have in years past.
If the Orioles are going to land the top-end starting pitcher that they are reportedly looking for, it will most likely come via trade.
They have been repeatedly linked to Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease. A deal between these two teams makes sense on paper for both parties.
Baltimore would get their elite starter with an affordable contract in 2024 and another year of club control. The White Sox would get back some building block pieces as they start to rebuild.
There has been nothing public about any offers made, but Shervon Fakhimi of ClutchPoints put together his own trade package that might get the deal done.
"The Chicago White Sox trade Dylan Cease to the Baltimore Orioles for Joey Ortiz, Kyle Stowers, Justin Armbruester, Trace Bright, and Jud Fabian," he writes.
Alright, so the Orioles get their guy, but have to give up five prospects to get it done.
Would that be something they would do?
Joey Ortiz is their No. 6 overall prospect, Jud Fabian is No. 13, Justin Armbruester is No. 19, Trace Bright is No. 30 and Kyle Stowers isn't ranked as a Top-30 according to MLB Pipeline.
That feels like a lot to send.
But, Ortiz is an infielder that likely won't play much in the future because of the crowded unit, Fabian is a couple years away from his MLB debut and is not as talented as their other outfield prospects and Armbruester and Bright are promising pitchers, but not seen as elite.
This package is something that Chicago should jump all over.
They get back a slew of promising players that will likely find more opportunities in their organization.
Baltimore should also consider this type of deal as well.
They'd get an ace starting pitcher that will immediately help this roster compete for a World Series title the next two seasons and would not be giving up any of their truly elite prospects.
