MLB Rumors: 3 prospects the Braves could trade for Dylan Cease.
Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease is up for grabs. General manager Chris Getz has made it clear he is open to trading Cease, as the White Sox are ready to rebuild. Cease, who has two years left on his contract and is a former AL Cy Young finalist, will likely receive the most prospect capital in return and is their best trade asset.
The White Sox were reportedly disappointed when the Los Angeles Dodgers trade for Tyler Glasnow, as they coveted Ryan Pepiot, who was included in that trade package. However, the White Sox demands for any Cease trade have also been unreasonable, at least until now. With the Dodgers less urgent to find their next ace, the Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves are the favorites to acquire Cease. Once Yoshinobu Yamamoto is off the board, Cease is even more likely to be dealt. Teams which lose out on the Yamamoto sweepstakes could enter the fold as well.
The Braves would be wise to make their best offer sooner rather than later. The longer they wait, the more likely it is they are outbid for a team which is far more desperate for starting pitching. Alex Anthopoulos has the prospects available to swing a trade if he offers up the ideal package…now.
2. Braves should offer Bryce Elder in any trade package for Dylan Cease
It’s not often a team can offer a young All-Star in exchange for a player like Cease. Bryce Elder struggled towards the end of last season, but he did make the NL All-Star team in 2023. Trading Elder when his value is at its highest makes sense for Anthopoulos, especially if the Braves doubt his ability to replicate his 2023 campaign.
For now, though, Elder is slotted as the No. 4 starting pitcher in the Atlanta rotation behind Spencer Strider, Max Fried and Charlie Morton. Having Elder, a young pitcher on the rise, as a bottom of the rotation starting pitcher speaks to the embarrassment of riches the Braves have to play with here. Despite their lackluster farm system, Atlanta could offer up a 24-year-old Elder as the centerpiece of any deal along with Grissom.
Elder’s velocity dropped late in the regular season, and he struggled in the playoffs against the Philadelphia Phillies. He was part of the problem in the Braves second-straight postseason collapse. Acquiring Cease would eliminate that problem entirely, and give Atlanta a backup plan in case they are unable to extend Max Fried.
3. Braves should offer Vaughn Grissom in any trade package for Dylan Cease
The Braves don’t really have a starting spot to offer Vaughn Grissom, who would be a middle infielder on most teams. Atlanta flirted with offering him a platoon opportunity in right field, but the acquisition of Jarred Kelenic could limit his chances there. Kelenic is a former top prospect who could thrive at the plate thanks to Kevin Seltzer.
Grissom hasn’t played much outfield in winter ball, so that may eliminate that thought entirely. Grissom can hold his own at second base and perhaps even shortstop after working with Ron Washington last winter. However, playing him in the outfield may be forcing it, despite his potential as a hitter.
Trading Grissom to the White Sox, a place where he could thrive with less pressure, makes the most sense if the Braves are to swing a trade for Cease. Grissom would not be the centerpiece of any trade, but he’s an MLB-ready piece who better fits the White Sox competitive window.
MLB Rumors: Latest Dylan Cease trade update immensely favors Braves.
The Chicago White Sox have been shopping Dylan Cease for weeks, with trade talks picking up once Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. LA made a subsequent move to address a need in their starting rotation, trading for former Rays ace Tyler Glasnow.
The White Sox were reportedly disappointed with that move, if only because Ryan Pepiot — a player sent to Tampa Bay in that trade — was coveted by Chicago. Now, with Los Angeles seemingly taking a back seat in Sale talks for the time being, the Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles are favored as landing spots, per Bob Nightengale.
The Orioles are in desperate need for starting pitching, but their unwillingness to part ways with top prospects, along with their inability to give a frontline starter an expensive extension, makes this fit rather unlikely unless the Angelos family has signed off.
The Braves have the advantage for Cease if they want it, and seemingly some bargaining power for once. The White Sox are down a suitor for now, and the Orioles won’t give in to Chris Getz’s absurd trade demands for Cease. If Alex Anthopoulos were to meet Getz halfway, the time is right for a trade agreement.
MLB Rumors: Time is right for Braves to trade for Dylan Cease
The Braves prefer not to add much in payroll for this coming season, but the timing works perfectly for Anthopoulos to add Cease to the mix. Because Cease has two years left on his current contract, the Braves can allow him to play out this season on his deal, and potentially consider extending him next winter should they lose Max Fried, who is a free agent in 2024.
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