The Chicago White Sox Are Making A Mistake By Hanging On To Dylan Cease

Before the trade deadline, the Chicago White Sox have already gotten their fire sale underway. As expected, Chicago has traded away Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly, Reynaldo Lopez, and Kendall Graveman. While more moves are expected to come, one pitcher Chicago seems reluctant to move is Dylan Cease. Given how disappointing the Sox have been this season and the long rebuild they are embarking on, this decision is befuddling. I believe the White Sox are making a mistake by not trading Cease.

Chicago Is Selling

With the Kansas City Royals being the only thing separating the Sox from last place in the AL Central, Chicago is naturally a seller at this trade deadline. Rick Hahn has already dealt away Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Lance Lynn, and Kendall Graveman for prospects to begin another rebuild. Given how poorly the Sox have played this season, nobody should be off limits to trade discussions.

The White Sox Would Hold All The Leverage

Dylan Cease has two years of team control remaining on his contract before he hits free agency. I don’t expect the White Sox to be competitive in the next two years. After all, their most recent rebuild only brought them two division titles, no playoff series wins, and most recently an abrupt decline in their on-field performance. Since Cease has a couple of years of control left, the Sox would hold all the leverage in trade talks. Star pitchers with more than one year of control are what all teams crave. The front office would be able to command a bevy of top prospects in return for Cease.

Chicago Isn’t Going To Be Competitive In The Next Two Years

Teams have already been inquiring about the availability of Dylan Cease. However, Chicago has already told them that Cease is unavailable in trade talks. The decision to hold on to Cease means they lose all the leverage they would have in trade talks. Now that Cease will only have a year of control remaining next season, this means that the prospects Chicago can receive won’t be as valuable. Cease will more than likely test the market after next year, and prospective teams will know. These teams may view him more as a rental player rather than a long-term piece of that franchise’s future. Chicago is missing out on a great opportunity to bolster their farm system to speed up their impending rebuild.

The Sox Continue To Make The Same Stupid Decisions

It is decisions like these made by past front-office regimes that have constantly plagued the south side over the years. Chicago has already sold away key pieces, how are they insane enough to believe that they can compete next season? What makes them believe that holding on to Dylan Cease for another season is going to make a difference? If Rick Hahn and the front office were using logic the answer would be obvious no. Unfortunately for Sox fans, the front office doesn’t seem to use it. With an impending rebuild coming up, Chicago needs all the top prospects it can get right now. This decision could potentially have long-term consequences and might prolong the Sox from being competitive again.

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