AL West Team Has Renewed Conversations On Dylan Cease

At the beginning of the offseason, Dylan Cease seemed to be the most likely starting pitcher to be traded this winter. But the Chicago White Sox have pulled back in recent weeks, apparently not getting the offers they had hoped for the one-time ace. 

Now that the Pale Hose see the kind of haul that the Milwaukee Brewers got for Corbin Burnes, perhaps they do make a move after all. And according to former GM and MLB Network's Steve Phillips, the Seattle Mariners have picked up talks with the Sox on Cease:

Seattle — They are the team right now. There are renewed conversations with the Chicago White Sox. They made the deal for Jorge Polanco (with the Minnesota Twins), they gave up (starting pitcher) Anthony DeSclafani in the deal... It could take a young pitcher like Bryan Woo going back (to Chicago) in return... It’s OK to give up a No. 4, No. 5 starter at the back end to get somebody at the front end (like Cease).

I believe a deal will be done before February 14... it’s just a matter of time before the move is made.

Woo, who just turned 24, had a fine introduction to the majors in his rookie year in '23, posting a 4.21 ERA in 18 starts, with a 1.21 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. 

The Mariners, if they were to pull this off, would have to be hoping that Cease performs this season more like his 2021-22 self, when he posted a combined 3.00 ERA over the two years, and led all starters in K/9 in '21 at 12.3, and then finished second in Cy Young voting in '22 with a 2.20 ERA.

In 2023, Cease took a big downturn, posting a 4.58 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP.

Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports