Dodgers Still Active in Starting Pitcher Market, Among Suitors for Dylan Cease Trade
The Dodgers need to put the finishing touches on the roster ahead of the 2024 season. Even after making huge splashes with Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow, the roster could still use some help in the pitching department and in the outfield.
With a full 40-man roster, a trade for any help at this point seems possible. Rumored to be interested in RHP Dylan Cease from the White Sox all offseason, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Dodgers are still among those in the mix.
The White Sox are weighing offers for Cease, and the Yankees and Orioles are among those to express “sincere” interest, according to major-league sources briefed on the discussions. Other teams also are serious, however. While the exact list of suitors is not known, the Dodgers, Cardinals and Red Sox are among the teams possibly in the mix.
Ken Rosenthal – The Athletic
Ceaese, 28, finished second in the Cy Young voting just a year ago. Cease stays healthy and he pitches every fifth day like clockwork. With two years of team control left, the Dodgers would need to send a hefty package back to Chicago for him.
The Dodgers may not need someone of Cease’s caliber, though. Yamamoto and Glasnow headline the rotation with a combination of Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller behind them. Then, in 2025, Shohei Ohtani joins the ranks to make this rotation a three-headed kaiju – King Ghidora.
All of this to say, the Dodgers would be giving up a lot for someone who, at best, slots in as the No. 3. Rosenthal does not believe the Dodgers are done adding talent though.
The Dodgers, even after spending $1 billion this offseason on right-handers Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani, are not ruling out the addition of another starter with Ohtani out as a pitcher until 2025, sources said.
Ken Rosenthal – The Athletic
No one would complain if the Dodgers brought Dylan Cease into the fold. Just at that price point, it does not feel likely.
Regardless, the Dodgers need to add one more starting pitcher. They have plenty of options in both free agency and the trade market. Maybe a reunion with Hyun-Jin Ryu is in order?
Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, livestreams, and more!
A Fair Trade proposal: Dodgers get: Dylan Cease, Luis Robert, completing their roster for 2024 and addressing their two needs – a right-handed, power-hitting outfielder and the last, very well-qualified starter they need for 2024. White Sox get: Miguel Vargas, Michael Busch, Gavin Stone, Nick Frasso, Landon Knack, Diego Carftya, Alex Vesia. Throw in Andy Pages if necessary. White Sox get 3 potential starters with up to 18 years of control among them, 2 infielders, both AAA players of the year (2022, 2023), with 10 years of control between them, a catcher of the future, 1-2 years away, also with 6 years of control. All of these players start at the minimum. 3 starters, and 3 position players. Also a good left-handed relief pitcher, controllable and inexpensive. A very large haul for the White Sox 8 players. Dodgers retain their best pitching prospects, Miller, Sheehan, Hurt, they retain their best catching prospect for 2025, Dalton Rushing, they lose players who are replaced by the trade gains or who just don’t have a place to play on the Dodgers.
Sign Brasier. 2025 – sign Soto, Sasaki.
We don’t really need Cease although he would bolster the rotation if Buehler can’t find his track. We do need to get rid of some prospects with expiring “sell by” dates with no real position to play, such as Vargas, Busch, and Stone or Grove. Might even be able to dump Margot on the White Sox, like Tampa Bay did to us. If the White Sox are willing to trade him then maybe if Cease is only marginal next year, then trade him to one of the teams that wanted him like the Orioles, Yankees, Cardinals or Red Sox, maybe even the Braves.
Were too close to the Cohen luxury tax level and I don’t think it is worth the money for a 116% tax unless you can move him for someone else in a year or at the 2025 trade deadline while he is still under your control.