Dylan Cease, SP, Chicago White Sox
Dylan Cease has been mentioned frequently in trade rumors leading up to the Winter Meetings. The Chicago White Sox will likely deal him this offseason; it's just a question of where at this point. The right-hander has finished among the top starters in strikeouts since 2021. He finished as the American League runner-up for the Cy Young Award following the 2022 season.
He regressed a bit this year as he finished with a 4.58 ERA a season after he had a 2.20 ERA. Cease's WHIP rose from 1.11 in 2022 to 1.42 in 2023. Hitters had a .250 average against him this season. This was significantly higher compared with the .190 average batters had against him two years ago or in 2021 when offenses averaged .223 versus the 27-year-old.
Considering the bright spots he has shown over the last three years and that starting pitching is always a need for clubs during the regular season, the White Sox want a decent return in a trade package for Cease. He's under team control until the end of 2025.
Dealin' his way into Sox history! pic.twitter.com/O91kZwsrul
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 23, 2023
Griff McGarry is the Phillies' No. 5 prospect and had success with the Reading Fightin Phils at Double-A this year. He had a 3.13 ERA and 54 2/3 innings pitched in 13 starts. However, he struggled in three starts with the IronPigs. He'll need much more time at the Triple-A level before advancing to the Majors.
Cease would be an excellent third or fourth-starter in the Phillies' rotation. The White Sox are looking for some young prospects and young major league players in exchange for the 27-year-old.
A Phillies trade for Dylan Cease could look like this:
Phillies receive: RHP Dylan Cease
White Sox receive: LHP Cristopher Sánchez, RHP Mick Abel, RHP Griff McGarry, OF Justin Crawford
NEXT: One of the best hitters in baseball who already has a connection to the Phillies.