Starting pitcher Dylan Cease has been viewed as one of MLB's top trade candidates this winter. The Chicago White Sox are aware of this because of the incredibly high price tag they've placed on him in trade talks. They're so high that the New York Yankees have been scared away for the time being.
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Cease is heading into 2024 with two years of team control remaining before hitting free agency. So, it makes sense as to why the White Sox are trying to get the best possible package in any potential deal. If general manager Chris Getz doesn't get a satisfactory trade proposal from an interested team this winter, he can simply hold onto Cease and revisit the situation at the trade deadline.
But what would it take for Chicago to feel like they can pull the trigger right now? USA Today's Bob Nightengale shared on January 7 that the Sox are looking for two premium prospects, along with a couple more. When it comes to the Yankees, that means either outfielder Spencer Jones or right-handed pitcher Chase Hampton to start the conversation, per Nightengale.
According to MLB.com, Jones is currently the Yankees' top prospect. Hampton ranks fourth overall and is the top pitcher.
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported on January 5 that New York had a "sincere" interest in acquiring Cease. However, a lot has transpired between then and now. General manager Brian Cashman offered free-agent hurler Blake Snell a contract on January 11. But when he realized it was coming nowhere close to what the left-hander was asking for, they pivoted to Marcus Stroman on a two-year, $37 million deal.
Nightengale and others have noted that the Yankees' signing of Stroman is likely their last major acquisition of the offseason unless circumstances change. Getz still seems confident that something will eventually come to fruition regarding a Cease deal, whether it's with the Yankees or otherwise. "All it takes is one team to want to jump out, perhaps, and get a deal done," he said to Nightengale. "In the case of Dylan, I don't think there's a club out there that hasn't expressed some level of interest in him."
New York is far from the only team connected to Cease over the past few months. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles have also been linked to the hurler in recent weeks.
