In an interview with NBC Sports Chicago’s Chuck Garfien, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi said that the odds are “heavily in favor” of Cease being dealt by the White Sox as they look to rebuild their roster.

“There’s a very strong chance Dylan Cease does get traded, whether it happens this week or next week or the following week. I would say that the odds are heavily in favor of Cease being moved,” he said. “One of the quickest ways you can (reshape the roster) is by trading a controllable starting pitcher.”

Along with the Atlanta Braves, who are looking to bring the hometown Cease back to the south, Morosi also mentioned the Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers as possible landing spots for Cease, and said that the San Francisco Giants could get involved if they fail to land Shohei Ohtani or Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The favorite, in Morosi’s eyes? The Orioles.

“Their farm system is so good, and their need for pitching is so clear that I think that Dylan Cease to Baltimore is where I’m going to predict that winds up. It makes sense on paper for a number of reason,” he said.

As for what the return could be for Cease, Morosi says that the expectation is that the team can get two top-100 prospects for the pitcher, given that he has multiple years of team control left and has a reputation for being able to make regular lengthy starts.

After finishing as the Cy Young runner-up in 2022, Cease struggled at times in the 2023 season, with a 7-9 record and a 4.58 ERA in 33 starts for the South Siders.

Cease is arbitration-eligible this offseason, and won’t be a free agent until the conclusion of the 2025 season. He is expected to make around $8.3 million, according to projections from Spotrac.

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According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Atlanta Braves are now looking to bolster their pitching staff by adding Cease to their rotation.

It had previously been reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers were interested in Cease as well, as were several other teams, according to reports.

After finishing as the American League Cy Young Award runner-up in the 2022 season, Cease took a bit of a step back in 2023, posting a 7-9 record and a 4.58 ERA in a career-high 33 starts for the White Sox. His Strikeouts-per-nine-innings decreased slightly, but his WHIP increased from 1.11 to 1.42 as he gave up 46 more hits in seven fewer innings of work for the Sox.

Still, at 27 years old and with several years of team control remaining, Cease is an attractive commodity on the market, and teams will likely be willing to part with serious prospect capital to acquire his services.

In a recent episode of the White Sox Talk podcast, Nightengale said that industry sources have told him there is a “90% chance” that Cease is traded this offseason as the Sox look to restock their farm system.

Earlier reports had indicated that Cease was available for trade offers, and that the only player the White Sox weren’t listening on was outfielder Luis Robert Jr.

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According to the latest updates from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the White Sox have apparently been in negotiations with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a trade involving Cease.

“The Dodgers badly need pitching help, and the White Sox badly need to rebuild their roster,” Nightengale said.

Cease had a down year in 2023, with a 7-9 record and a 4.58 ERA in 33 starts for Chicago. It was a rough follow-up to his 2022 season, where he was the Cy Young runner up and posted a 14-8 record with a 2.20 ERA for the South Siders.

Cease still has two years of team control remaining, with free agency looming following the conclusion of the 2025 season, according to Spotrac.

The White Sox and Dodgers have been frequent trade partners of late, with pitchers Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly being dealt to the West Coast in late July. The Sox also acquired pitchers Aldrin Batista and Maximo Martinez from the Dodgers in early August.

It isn’t clear what kind of return the White Sox would get for Cease, but with two years of control and a young arm involved, it certainly could be a big one for a team in need of a jump start.

White Sox GM Chris Getz has been adamant that the team is willing to listen to offers on any player except for Luis Robert Jr., and it appears that they’re serious about that approach.

Rumors could heat up in the first week of December when baseball executives gather for the winter meetings in Nashville.

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In a move that sent a veteran under team control to a title-contending club, the White Sox helped address depth issues both on the mound and in the field, most notably acquiring pitcher and former NL Rookie of the Year finalist Mike Soroka in the deal.

The trade could be the first of many this offseason for the South Siders, with general manager Chris Getz indicating on Friday that no players on the current roster are seen as untouchable.

“I’ve made it very clear that the White Sox are willing to listen in on any of our players,” Getz said on Friday, while adding that multiple teams have expressed interest in outfielder Eloy Jiménez.

Originally acquired alongside Dylan Cease in a blockbuster trade that sent José Quintana to the crosstown rival Chicago Cubs, Jiménez inked a six-year deal worth $43 million before his first MLB game.

While Jiménez has shown flashes of greatness, finishing fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2019 and winning a Silver Slugger in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, injuries have perhaps been the main story for the slugging outfielder during his time on the South Side.

Jiménez’s 122 games played during his rookie year represent a career-high, and while the outfielder has shown high peaks such as a 141 OPS+ campaign in 84 games in 2022, the frequency of his injuries has hindered his ability to put together a full season.

Despite the injuries, Jiménez holds plenty of intrigue and value entering his age-27 season, especially with a league-wide DH that could help teams find him a spot in the lineup more regularly.

Primarily a left fielder to this point in his career, Jiménez has struggled to the tune of a -4.1 defensive WAR, including a -1.3 dWAR in 2023 over 120 games.

Jiménez is owed $13 million in 2024 while holding club options for 2025 and 2026 for $16.5 million and $18.5 million respectively. Both options contain a $3 million buyout, making Jiménez a relatively affordable trade candidate for teams if he can stay healthy.

Getz did not specify which clubs expressed interest, though his comments on the club being open to listen to offers on anyone could pave the way for one of the more active White Sox offseasons in recent memory.

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At the end of the release, the White Sox also announced they’ll change their organizational structure by having just one decision-maker moving forward. Previously, both Williams and Hahn had a voice in the White Sox front office. According to Bob Nightengale, there’s already a front runner to consider, if majority owner/chairman Jerry Reinsdorf decides to hire his next GM from within.

Getz’ current title with the team is assistant general manager/player development in the minor league operations department. He’s worked in that capacity since 2021 and previously worked as the team’s director of player development.

Before his career in the White Sox front office, Getz took the field with the White Sox. The team selected him in the fourth round of the 2005 draft, and he made his major league debut late in 2008. Manager Ozzie Guillen named Getz the White Sox starting second baseman out of spring training in 2009, but that ended up being his only season on the South Side. In November 2009, the White Sox included Getz in a trade to acquire Mark Teahan from the Royals.

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Middleton has been a bright spot in the White Sox bullpen this year, with a 3.82 ERA and 46/16 K/BB ratio over 35.1 innings pitched. His ERA is well below the team’s cumulative 4.62 ERA.

Rick Hahn has shipped off several players to contenders as the White Sox tear down their underperforming roster. On Friday the team sent Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly to the Dodgers, and Kendall Graveman to the Astros. On Wednesday, it was Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez on their way to the Angels.

The MLB trade deadline is Aug. 1.

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Bob Nightengale reports Lynn’s trade to the Dodgers is done, with LA also gaining the right to pick up his $18.5 million club option or $1 million buyout in 2024.

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal also reported Joe Kelly is a part of the deal.

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the White Sox have received two right-handed pitching prospects, along with a familiar face:

The 2024 season marks the final of Lynn’s contract, which is a club option.

This season, Lynn hasn’t pitched to his best ability. He holds a 6.18 ERA through 20 starts, allowing the most earned runs (78) and home runs (28) of any starter. Though, he’s shown superior flashes through a franchise-record 16-strikeout game and three 7-inning appearances.

The White Sox originally acquired Lynn just before flipping the calendar to 2021. They traded Dane Dunning and, then, the No. 5 prospect in their pipeline — Avery Weems — to the Texas Rangers for Lynn.

Similarly, Lynn then had one season left on his contract when the White Sox acquired him. After an All-Star season in 2021, the White Sox extended him to a two-year deal worth $38 million. He also has the aforementioned club option on his deal for the 2024 season.

Lynn’s trade marks the latest significant trade for the team following Lucas Giolito’s trade to the Angels.

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According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, the Miami Marlins have expressed interest in long-time White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, hoping a change of scenery could help boost the team’s fledgling shortstop production.

Despite boasting a 19-8 record in June and jumping out to a 53-39 record just before the All-Star break on July 9, the Fish have come upon hard times in the weeks since.

The Marlins emerged from the midseason intermission dropping eight straight, and have only won twice in the second half.

Even still, rookie manager Skip Schumaker has the Marlins at 55-48, just a half game outside of a playoff spot, giving general manager Kim Ng clear reason to buy at the deadline as the franchise looks to qualify for the postseason in a full season for the first time in 20 years.

As for Anderson, the 30-year-old shortstop is perhaps in need of a new place to play, with 2023 panning out to be his worst year in the majors by a healthy margin.

Though Anderson has noticeably struggled in 2023, it was as recent as this offseason where he was widely viewed as one of the league’s most surefire contact hitters.

From 2019 to 2022, Anderson amassed 51 home runs, a batting title, Silver Slugger, two All-Star appearances and a top-10 MVP finish, with his batting average not dipping below .301.

This season, TA has struggled to regain his stroke, hitting .245/.285/.285 with 11 doubles, amounting to a 59 OPS+, 41 points below league average. Additionally, Anderson hasn’t gone yard since July 15, 2022, span lasting more than a full year.

In contrast, Anderson posted OPS+ ratings of 128, 140, 118 and 109 from 2019 to 2022 respectively.

Though Rogers noted it’s far from a certainty that Anderson would even be moved at the deadline, it appears that the Marlins are at least interested in taking a flyer on the two-time All-Star.

Despite one half of the middle infield being occupied by the .376 hitting All-Star Luis Arraez, the Marlins cannot say the production has been anywhere close at the shortstop position.

Joey Wendle and Jon Berti have spent much of the time at shortstop for Miami this season, with the two infielders combining for just three home runs and 30 RBI.

While the cavernous loanDepot Park wouldn’t necessarily create more opportunities to end Anderson’s homerless streak that has lasted for over a calendar year, a new environment and spot in a contact-heavy lineup could give TA a prime opportunity to regain his form.

Though Anderson is in the final season of a seven-year, $37.5 million contract, the financial commitment may still loom large for a Marlins team that boasts one of the lowest payrolls in all of baseball.

Anderson’s $12.5 million salary makes him the fourth-highest paid player on the White Sox roster, with a $14 million team option looming for 2024.

The White Sox, 41-62, will begin a four-game set against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday night, with first pitch tonight at 7:10 p.m. on NBC Sports Chicago.

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The Rays are one of the best teams in baseball, in large part due to their dominant pitching staff. As things stand, their 3.65 team ERA is the second-best in MLB. But Tampa recently got news that starter Drew Rasmussenー who’s been on the IL since Mayー won’t return this year, so they could use a boost in the rotation. 

Lynn has an uncharacteristically high 6.06 ERA this year, but he’s still known as a big-game starter. As Nightengale noted in his report, Lynn also has a career-best 11.0 K/9 ratio so far this season. Accordingly, Nightengale reports that the White Sox are maintaining a “steep” asking price for Lynn’s services.

Nightingale’s report comes just days after another report emerged that the Reds have called the White Sox about acquiring a pitcher like Lynn or Lucas Giolito.

Sitting 16 games under .500 and 8.5 games back of the A.L. Central leading Twins, the White Sox are widely expected to be sellers this summer. The MLB trade deadline is Aug. 1.

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According to a report from MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Dodgers are apparently interested in acquiring pitcher Lucas Giolito from the South Siders to help bolster their postseason aspirations:

The Dodgers currently sit at 51-38 at MLB’s All-Star break, and they are in a tie with the Diamondbacks atop the division. The Giants are just 2.5 games back in the heated race for the top spot in that division.

The White Sox meanwhile are well off the pace in the American League Central, and could look to unload several players from their roster, including Giolito, who is set to become a free agent at season’s end.

In 19 starts with the White Sox this season, Giolito has a 6-5 record and a 3.45 ERA, and he could give an instant boost to the Dodgers’ rotation as they look to solidify their roster ahead of what they hope could be a deep playoff run.

Giolito was born in Santa Monica and went to high school in the Los Angeles area, meaning that a reunion with the Dodgers could be an enticing possibility.

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Heyman reports the White Sox are protecting four players from trade: Dylan Cease, Luis Robert Jr. — who’s a first-time All-Star this season –, Andrew Vaughn and Eloy Jiménez. Unless a team offers an irrefutable package for any of these players, it’s unlikely they will be traded at the deadline.

As for the rest of the bunch, it’s open season. Lucas Giolito, Keynan Middleton and Reynaldo Lopez figure to be the first names on the block, according to Heyman’s report. Heyman listed the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers as potential suitors, mentioning Giolito could land in his hometown Los Angeles with the Dodgers, too.

Yoán Moncada and Michael Kopech, two higher-caliber players on the White Sox, are not in “that same close-to-untouchable category,” says Heyman. Though, the right offer would likely need to come for the Sox to pull the trigger on sending their starting third baseman and one of their more valuable starters, elsewhere.

Heyman’s report coincides closely with that of The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, who usually — like Heyman — doesn’t miss far from the mark on these kinds of reports.

Rosenthal reported the Sox are near the conclusion of becoming sellers at the deadline. The mere caveat of his report was designating which players the White Sox could deem off-limits. He wrote Kopech and Kendall Graveman could be on the short list of untouchables, but it’s never entirely certain.

If a team truly desires a certain player, and sends an overwhelming offer, it’d be difficult to say no.

Two players to keep tabs on are Tim Anderson and Andrew Benintendi. The latter hasn’t been included in trade rumors, likely because the White Sox inked him to the franchise’s most lucrative deal last winter. Anderson may have trouble garnering trade interest, considering he hit .152 in June and is currently slashing .223/.259/.263 this season.

The name of the game here is value. The White Sox aren’t entering a total selloff. If they become sellers, they will likely be looking for the right price on their players to help bolster their assets and farm system.

As for the players on expiring contracts, however, such as Giolito, Middleton, Lopez and Joe Kelly, the front office will probably be more lenient with their respective valuations.

The White Sox are 16 games under .500, holding the fourth spot in the AL Central and standing eight games back on the division-leading Cleveland Guardians. At this point, a roster shakeup is inevitable for the Sox, who have struggled to regain traction in the division after starting the season 7-21.

Pay close attention to the White Sox, as the Aug. 1 trade deadline could mark a new leaf for the South Side.

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Considering Lynn has pitched suboptimally all season, and since he’s currently serving on an expiring contract with a club option for next season, he would make for a potential commodity at the deadline.

But how much can the White Sox get for Lynn in return? One MLB reporter suspects they can get more than one would think judging from this season.

“I’ve talked to a few GMs. They love Lance Lynn,” Bob Nightengale said on NBC Sports Chicago’s White Sox Talk podcast. “I know he hasn’t, you know, he doesn’t have a good ERA. Hasn’t performed well. But they think — get him out of Chicago, get him in our hands, pitch lights out.”

“Lights out” is not how anyone would characterize Lynn this season, unfortunately. He holds a 6.47 ERA and has allowed the most hits, earned runs and home runs of any starting pitcher in MLB, according to Pro Baseball Reference.

His stuff, plain and simple, hasn’t been there this season.

Over his first two seasons with the White Sox, he pitched exactly how the South Side predicted he would: phenomenally. He earned an All-Star nod for a 2.69 ERA through 157 innings over the 2021 season. That year, he struck out 176 batters while walking 45.

Even in 2022, during a season where most of the White Sox wouldn’t categorize it as their best year, Lynn pitched fairly well. His ERA wasn’t outstanding (3.99) and injuries hampered him from getting a full season. But still, he was a viable commodity.

Should the White Sox receive a decent prospect, or more, in exchange for Lynn, they should jump at the opportunity.

Lynn, 36, is an aging pitcher with signs of a decline on the bump. His contract number for the rest of 2023 and 2024 ($18 million) isn’t favorable for his age and performance.

But if teams believe he has a second wind in him, by all means, the Sox should take advantage of his rumored robust market come Aug. 1.

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The White Sox hope guys like Noah Schultz (2022 first-round pick), Colson Montgomery (2021), Garrett Crochet (2020) and Andrew Vaughn (2019) will be cornerstones of the organization for years to come, but it’s far too early to tell what their legacy will be in Chicago. So now, we’re taking a look at White Sox first-round draft picks who have already cemented their spot in franchise history. And if the White Sox were to carve the faces of four first-rounders into a mountain somewhere on the South Side, here’s who would make the cut.

HAROLD BAINES – 1977

Baines is a man who will be a White Sox lifer forever, even though he didn’t spend his entire playing career with the team. Over his incredible 22-year career, Baines spent 14 seasons with the White Sox. He was one of the most consistent hitters on the team and was known for being a soft-spoken, nice guy. Consider this stretch in Baines’ first stint with the team: from 1981 through the first half of 1989 (when he was traded to the Rangers), Baines never finished a season with a batting average below. He hit 20+ homers in six straight seasons over that same time frame. And he continued to play at a high level for a long time. Baines’ last 100+ RBI season came in 1999, nearly two decades after his minor league debut. He retired after the 2001 season, but couldn’t stay away from the game too long. Baines rejoined the White Sox as a bench coach for former teammate Ozzie Guillen. He remained a coach through the 2015 season. In 2019, Baines was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

JACK MCDOWELL – 1987

“Black Jack” dominated as an ace for the White Sox practically from the moment they drafted him with the No. 5 overall pick. McDowell started just six minor games before the team called him up to make his MLB debut in Sept. 1987. He was lights out. In his first start, McDowell threw seven shutout innings and only gave up four hits in the process.  He finished the 1987 season with a 1.93 ERA and a perfect 4-0 record in four starts. McDowell never relented after that and was the ultimate workhouse in the rotation. He pitched 250+ innings three seasons in a row from 1991-1993. That included an MLB-leading 15 complete games in ‘91 and 13 complete games in ‘92. McDowell had a 3.50 ERA over his seven year career on the South Side with 49 complete games and 10 shutouts. He was a three-time All-Star and won the Cy Young award in 1993.

ROBIN VENTURA – 1988

It did not take long for Ventura to make an impact for the White Sox, both offensively and defensively. In 1990, Ventura’s rookie season, he racked up 123 hits, which was the most by a Sox rookie since Ozzie Guillen in 1985. The next year he won his first of five Gold Glove awards with the White Sox, and set a record for most RBI by a White Sox third baseman with 100. He broke that record again with 105 in 1996. The White Sox let Rockin’ Robin walk after the 1998 season, but he returned to manage the team from 2012 – 2016. His managerial career was not as successful as his playing career, but he remains the best third baseman in franchise history.

FRANK THOMAS – 1989

Simply put, the greatest White Sox hitter of all-time. The “Big Hurt” owns practically every relevant franchise record for a hitter, including his 448 home runs, 1,465 RBI, 1,466 walks and .995 OPS. In 16 seasons with the White Sox, he hit over 30 home runs eight times. He had 10 seasons with over 100 RBI. He led the league in OPS four times. Thomas won MVP twice, and should have won a third award in 2000. Thomas finished in second behind Jason Giambi that year, and Giambi later testified that he took steroids around that time. Ask someone who’s the first player they think of when you say “White Sox” and there’s a good chance they respond “Frank Thomas” and he’s earned every bit of that honor.

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Monday on 670 The Score, Heyman was asked about Grifol’s snippy response to a reporter’s question about batting slugger Jake Burger eighth in the order on Sunday.

“That frustration really showed,” Heyman said. “He had Burger batting eighth. I really don’t know what to make of that other than he’s frustrated. I don’t know if he’s frustrated with his bosses or the questions or what, but it wasn’t a great look. He’s supposed to be a disciplinarian. Should probably show some discipline on his own. I guess it’s nice we got a window into his frustration, but I would say if this year doesn’t turn around, he could be one-and-done.

“I would say they’re giving him the year likely. …But he cannot be in great standing at this point. They have underachieved immensely.”

When Rick Hahn spoke to the media at Guaranteed Rate Field Monday afternoon, he said he was “pissed” about Heyman’s assessment.

“Apparently, there was a very well-respected out-of-town reporter speculating about Pedro’s job security on a local sports station,” Hahn said. “…This underperformance that we’ve had so far or any of the issues we’ve had thus far in this season is not on Pedro and on the coaching staff. I don’t think we could have been more clear about that.”

He then “cautioned against” putting credibility in reports from people who aren’t close to the organization and said he called Heyman to ask where his report came from.

“We had a great talk, and he shared that he was simply answering a question with his own speculation and not something that he was reporting,” Hahn said.

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After giving up five runs (four earned) in five innings against the Dodgers, Lynn was pulled for Garrett Crochet. When Lynn made it back to the dugout he was clearly unhappy, and took out his anger on a tablet.

Dugout meltdowns aren’t uncommon for players going through a cold streak. Chris Sale infamously destroyed a minor league tunnel after a rough rehab start last season. Sale took ownership of his outburst and paid for the damage he caused. Carlos Zambrano was known for destroying a Gatorade cooler. It happens.

Lynn has struggled mightily over his past three weeks. Over three starts, he only lasted 14.0 innings and gave up 17 earned runs and six home runs. That’s good for a 10.93 ERA. Batters have consistently reached base against him too. Since May 31, Lynn has allowed batters to slash .349/.431/.746 against him.

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“There will come a point where that becomes apparent that (a comeback to contention) is not very likely to happen,” Rick Hahn said on Monday. “At that point we’ll have to make the final decision about direction. It’s not a decision we have to make on Memorial Day.”

A disastrous stretch in April, which included a 10-game losing streak, all but buried the Sox before the weather got nice enough in Chicago to really enjoy a ballgame. The White Sox are lucky to play in a division with several other bad teams, so they still have some hope of competing for a postseason bid if their play improves. There have been flashes of that improved play in May and the team has won five of eight series in the month. They’ll need to keep that up if they want to be involved as the summer progresses.

“I think the frustration we all felt in April, we haven’t completely rinsed ourselves off,” Hahn said. “We know that this team is capable of performing at a level we saw glimpses of over the last four weeks, but not enough consistency. So that’s what we’re looking for going forward.”

The White Sox just went through a lengthy rebuild to put themselves in a position to contend year after year. There was some regular season success in 2020 and 2021, but no postseason success. Things have sharply declined since. It would be painful for the White Sox to start another rebuild again, but Hahn said the team can’t let emotions get in the way of plotting the proper future for the team.

“Ultimately you have to make the decision about who you are, what your record says you are, and as a result, you need to prepare the organization for the future the best way you can. Again, that doesn’t have to be on Memorial Day. So we still have a little bit of time to get this team playing up to the expectation levels of all of us in the front office and back in the clubhouse.

“But if that doesn’t happen, it’s the responsibility of all of us in the front office to realize objectively where we’re at and what’s best for the club going forward. Again, we’re not at that date yet, but we know it’s certainly a possibility.”

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