Dodgers Debated Interesting Trade Idea With White Sox, Other Clubs: Report

Without question, the Dodgers needed to address the starting pitching staff this offseason. The media quickly linked Los Angeles to right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox. A trade for Cease, a Cy Young runner-up with two years of control, would require high prospect capital — in both quantity and quality.

So far, a trade for the 28-year-old has not yet materialized. However, Dodgers president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, has addressed the rotation with the additions of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow. Seemingly, this would have taken the Dodgers out of the running for Cease, but, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, that was not the case.

“The Dodgers’ interest in Cease was stronger before they signed Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They continued talking to the White Sox afterward, but their trade with the Cubs indicated they were looking for future value. They discussed flipping Cease to another club — the Orioles were one possibility — and acquiring prospects that way.”

Ken Rosenthal – The Athletic

The club could still use another pitcher, even with the additions already made this offseason. However, they may not need someone with Cease’s talent or contract length. The rotation, realistically, could use a back-end starter, not a Cy Young candidate. Furthermore, with Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin set to return late this year or next, plus the glut of young talent in the organization, there’s a log jam at pitcher for 2025.

During his tenure in Los Angeles, Friedman has made it known that he wants sustained success. He wants to compete for a World Series every year, and not rely entirely on getting “hot” at the right time. Rosenthal, in this quote, hits on one of the ways Friedman achieves this, by always trying to keep the farm system loaded with talent.

Trading for Cease to then flip him for for additional top prospects would be quite the way to do that.

Even now, the Dodgers still could swing a trade with the White Sox to land Cease. Thanks to the incredible scouting and development departments, the organization has plenty of trade capital to use. Whether or not they want to — or need to — remains to be seen.

Photo Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports

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