White Sox's trade market for Dylan Cease heating up

GLENDALE, Ariz. (670 The Score) -- Consider it a surprise of early spring training is that right-hander Dylan Cease is still a White Sox pitcher.

Even though manager Pedro Grifol had stated six weeks ago Cease would be the White Sox's opening day pitcher, the belief remained that he could still be traded prior to the start of the regular season.

Even the 28-year-old Cease isn't quite sure for which team he will be pitching in 2024.

"I followed all the trade stuff," Cease said. "But for the most part, I spent the offseason getting ready. Basically, ( White Sox general manager Chris Getz ) let me know that if something was imminent, he would give me a heads up. With those things, it's really hard to give a player too much notice, but he did say he would let me know."

The circumstances changed on Thursday as the Orioles announced two of their starting pitchers will go on the injured list to open the regular season.

Orioles starter Kyle Brandish has a UCL sprain and will be out for at least the beginning of April. Fellow starter John Means has been slowed in his rehab from left elbow surgery and is a month behind other pitchers. This new dynamic alone makes Cease possibly the best and the cheapest option for top-of-the-rotation help.

With free-agent pitchers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery still looking for a home in 2024, the Orioles could decide that they must put the best trade package together for Cease, who is earning just $8 million this season. Montgomery and Snell will be looking for multi-year deals that start with $22 million and up per season.

There was a path for Cease to be traded to either the Reds or the Dodgers in the early winter. Both teams said the White Sox were asking for too much inventory for them to make a trade and moved in different directions. Getz is seeking multiple prospects in return for Cease.

Meanwhile, the White Sox's plan has always been to wait for the Cease marketplace to come back to them after Montgomery and Snell signed. The risk now, due to a slow marketplace, is Cease getting injured and that putting a monkey wrench into their plans.

Cease finished second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2022, posting a 14-8 mark and a 2.20 ERA over 32 starts. He took a considerable step back last season, finishing 7-9 with a 4.58 ERA in 33 starts.

After posting a 61-101 record last season, the White Sox have set course on a rebuilding plan this offseason led by Getz. It's pushed them towards the prospects of dealing Cease away.

Cease reported to White Sox spring training on Wednesday, but now a new twist in this offseason could perhaps send him on the move.

"Either way it goes, I am going to give the same effort," Cease said. "I just want to go out and perform. It's really that simple for me. We are not here with the mindset we are going to lose. We are all excited to be here and it's good to be back. Either way, it's going to be a positive and a win-win for me. But I am happy to be here.

"The spirits are high and there is a lot of excitement and good attitudes. That all makes a big difference, as too on the field things I have not seen a lot of the new guys yet. That will be more to talk about as we get into games and things get rolling."