The White Sox’ long-expected status as deadline sellers was cemented last night when they traded impending free agents Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez to the Angels in exchange for prospects Edgar Quero and Ky Bush. Further deals for the South Siders between now and Tuesday’s deadline are a certainty, but a broad-reaching teardown still appears unlikely. Teams who have inquired on the availability of righty Dylan Cease, who’s controllable through the 2025 season, have repeatedly been turned away, Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweets.
Cease, last year’s Cy Young runner-up, has been one of the most speculated-upon trade candidates in baseball this season, even as it’s continued to seem unlikely he’s moved. The White Sox are intent on reloading and taking another run at contending in 2024, making it far less likely that they’d deal a controllable top-of-the-rotation arm of Cease’s caliber.
The 27-year-old Cease hasn’t pitched as well in 2023 as he did in 2022. He’s sporting a solid 4.04 ERA with an excellent 28% strikeout rate and a 9.6% walk rate through 113 2/3 frames so far this season. He’s been particularly effective over his past nine starts, however, firing 51 innings of 3.00 ERA ball while punching out one-third of his opponents and recording an improved 8.5% walk rate. Cease is earning an affordable $5.7MM in his first season of arbitration eligibility and will be due a raise on that salary next season.
Cease isn’t the only controllable arm drawing interest on Chicago’s roster. Jon Morosi of MLB.com tweets that several contenders have expressed interest in lefty reliever Aaron Bummer despite a disastrous 6.56 ERA. Bummer’s season got out to an awful start, but he’s logged a 4.50 ERA in 24 innings dating back to May 12; five of the dozen earned runs he’s yielded in that time came in one meltdown on July 6.
Looking deeper into Bummer’s season, he’s fanned an impressive 28.3% of his opponents and kept the ball on the ground at a hefty 54.3% clip. The 29-year-old has been plagued by a .347 average on balls in play and an abnormally low 48.1% strand rate this year, both of which figure to trend back toward his career averages of .300 and 69.5%. Bummer hasn’t allowed a home run yet this season, which isn’t sustainable, but the overall package of a hard-throwing lefty who misses bats and piles up grounders while pitching on an affordable contract understandably has appeal for contending clubs. Bummer is playing out the fourth season of a five-year, $16MM contract but can be controlled another three seasons: a $5.5MM salary in 2024 plus a pair of club options valued at $7.25MM and $7.5MM in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
As with Cease, Bummer can be a part of the White Sox’ efforts to contend both in 2024 and 2025, so there’s no guarantee he’s moved. However, reliever performance is more volatile, evidenced by Bummer’s current ERA after logging a 2.59 mark in 160 innings from 2019-22. If the Sox can get some near-MLB help that could more affordably contribute to the 2024 roster, it’s feasible they’d be open to the possibility.
At some point in the next few days, the Sox will quite likely move right-handers Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly and Keynan Middleton, all of whom can become free agent at season’s end (though Lynn and Kelly have 2024 options on their contracts). The Rays and Dodgers were both reported to be in talks on Lynn yesterday, and the Dodgers were tied to Kelly.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic adds further fuel to those rumors, writing this morning that the Rangers and White Sox discussed a trade that would bring both Lynn and Kelly to Texas yesterday. The talks didn’t gain enough traction to bring about a deal, but Texas’ interest in both pitchers highlights the number of balls the Sox have in the air and the number of paths they could take as they look to retool in the coming days.
I can see Lynn, and Midddleton getting traded away.
Some of these guys like J Kelly and Graveman- can’t be given away free.
Yeah probably both to the Dodgers or the Rays.
I realize we need bullpen help in AZ. But we don’t need another bummer in the pen, which regularly causes the Virgin Mary to cry.
All White Sox pitchers’ ERAs are higher than they be due to the porous defense behind them.
They play in a phone booth of a stadium too – and that stadium is subsidized comfortably by the Illinois taxpayers.
Thanks to ‘big’ Jim Thompson- former Gov.
No politics, Dogbro!
Yeah, and as much as I respect Frank Thomas and Ozzie Guillen in the post game show they were talking about moving Moncada to 2nd so Burger can play 3rd.. In what universe do they think he can play there? I guess they forgot they tried that once already and it was atrocious That is the problem with this club. They have Sheets playing in the OF and Grandal playing at 1st and now Burger at 2nd.. guys out of position EVERYWHERE. Gee why do they have such a bad defense?
For a team that is 20+ games under 500- we sure have a lot of players other teams want. My question is- if theses players are good then maybe it is those leading this team that should be replaced. Including Jerry R who has never signed a player for more than 6 figures!
Every team has players other teams want. Royals are worse than the White Sox but they have plenty of guys other teams would be interested in.
bmann…Make that five figures.
Jerry signed Benintendi to a 5 year, $80M contract which I believe is 8 figures, but who’s counting?
Sox always have desirable pieces, yet always under perform. It is absolutely a valid criticism. Think back to the last fire sale that netted Eloy, Cease, Moncada, Gio and Reylo. All piece that ultimately helped win a title…except Quintana. Still don’t understand that move by the Cubs
“Quintana. Still don’t understand that move by the Cubs.”
You’re evaluating the trade from today’s lense. But easy to understand at the time the trade was made. Quintana was a near elite lefty for the Sox. 200 IP per year, 28 and controlled for 4 years. Cease was a high ceiling prospect that had control issues. Eloy was a bat-first, injury prone, poor fielding OF.
Cubs competitive window was likely closing ’20/’21. Cubs already had 2 bat-first poor fielding OFs, Kyle Schwarber & Soler. They chose Schwarber’s health and lefty bat over Eloy, and also traded Soler to KC.
The Cubs didn’t fail because of that trade. Neither Cease or Eloy would have made an impact back then. Quintana’s numbers weren’t what they were with Sox, but the Cubs core group of hitters disappeared in the playoffs.
So looking at the trade from the White Sox perspective, how many playoff wins will Cease have by the time he leaves for free agency? How many playoff HRs has Eloy hit?
And looking at their impact for the Sox, what have Cease and Eloy done? Maybe Cease is getting better as the year goes on, but he was a big reason this team started out 7-21. Eloy finished April hitting .225/.305/.338 with 2 HRs.
Even in a vacuum that trade didn’t make sense. Q was good, but was not having a great season. His return was largely predicated on his contract and his history. And the Cubs gave away their remain big prospects from a mostly depleted system. I am a huge Q supporter. I wanted the Sox to pick him back up. Keep in mind, the Cubs threw in 2 other players in that trade too. It was an overpay to get a good, reliable 3, at absolute best, 2
“Keep in mind, the Cubs threw in 2 other players in that trade too.”
You mean Brian Fleet and Matt Rose? Two guys that never played a day at the MLB level. If you think to that added value, good on you.
Actually the Cubs still had Ian Happ, Albert Almora in the system. You might also have heard of Justin Steele, Adbert Alzolay, Javier Assad, Miguel Amaya, Candelario, Caratini, Isaac Paredes, Velasquez.
But AGAIN, the point is Cease would have won zero games for the Cubs the their window, and the national league didn’t have the DH, so Eloy was worthless to the Cubs except for trade fodder for an AL team… In 5 years Eloy’s WAR is 6.0… I mean how much value does the guy really have? The Cubs kept Happ and his career WAR is 13.1, He’s been worth more than twice as much as Eloy.
Cease has had 1 season… That’s it. He got bounced around again tonite. I’ll admit the Sox got more from the trade, but the more Eloy and Cease play the less lopsided it becomes.
So what do you think was more of an overpay, This trade or Shields for Tatis?
Christopher Morel, Keegan Thompson and Alex Lange was also in the Cubs system in 2017.
The Sox are clueless when it comes to developing their talent, both in the minors and majors. They still have not fixed it which means any of these pieces they do get will under achieve in the minors or be passed up in a chance for the bigs. Remillard is a great example.. At 28, finally given a chance at the big league level and has only played good at 2nd, gotten key hits and scored key runs in games, and where is he at? the bench cause, yknow, they have to keep the guy who only hits (mostly) solo homers in the lineup, and play him out of position to do so… what a joke of an org…
The sum of the parts (Some Good Players) of the White Sox are better than the whole (The Team).
Yeah and I think there is a cancer or two in the locker room causing this.. Not sure who they are, but I have an idea. If they can move both of them in trades I think this locker room is far better and these guys start producing more.
I would be shocked to see the LAD take Lynn on. As good as he was even two years ago, that guy may be done. Egad he looks terrible.
He’s had games where he was flat out dominant. You put him on the dodgers and he’d have a totally different season. He’s definitely not “done”.
Redwine: how dare you say that. Lance Lynn looks like such an easy going, engaging, nice personality. Just don’t let your dog on his lawn.
He’s also very good at getting k’s. He has a high k rate, so his stuff is obviously there. Bad seasons and chemistry do happen. A change of scenery might be what he needs.
Lynn has had bad luck, and lets face it, when you are on a dog#@$% team like the White Sox are you really going to give it your all? I have a feeling you put a guy like Lynn on a playoff type team and the results will also show up (that and hope people forgot how lit up he got facing the Astros in the playoffs a couple of seasons ago)
Getting Quero was great! Now they need to get some guys from the Rays for Lynn!
The white Sox just refuse to face reality and do what’s best for them lol. So you have a controllable starter, a guy who will be a free agent in 2 years, who they most certainly are not going to shell out to extend, that you can get a haul for to kickstart the rebuild. Do they really expect to contend within 2 years, while he’s still controlled? With a bottom 5 farm system?
The clear answer is to deal everyone not named Robert for the right price. I feel bad for white Sox fans stuck in baseball purgatory perpetually it seems.
It’s not THAT bleak Biggar. On the positive side, they have 2 sunny boy broadcasters on TV, that will have absolutely no problem telling all W Sox fans that the Sox are the likely favorites for the AL pennant in 2024.
The house cleaning should start with those two fanboys. The phoney reality starts and ends with the two of them.
It’s interesting you say that. You prefer Boog, JD, and McGregor on the North side? I sure don’t.
I’m really don’t care one way or the other on Boog. If he was replaced it wouldn’t move my needle. That said, I absolutely think JD is great. I love his observations, his style and his low key humor.
I’m sure Steve Adams is a nice guy and all that, but he’s got things wrong. Trading for just two minor leaguers who aren’t going to help the Sox “reload” for 2024 for Gio and Lopez is ridiculous The Sox’ only goal is to cut salary. If they were serious about 2024 and beyond they would have traded for major league ready players. For an original AL team that has been around for 123 seasons, having an all-time payout of $75m to one player is pathetic. This team will be fighting it with the A’s for worst team in bb until Reinsdorf is gone.
Hahn/KW would just scour top 100 lists for Cease if allowed and acquire raw tool mentally soft guys like they did in the Sale trade. DD pulled a fast one on them in refusing to trade “lower ranked” Devers they self-scouted correct. Most farm systems have guys who look the part, but lack the coachability or drive to be great. As long as JR is finally firing the entire FO who have no clue how to develop players/run an organization, letting next competent administration decide on returns for Cease in offseason is a good decision. JR also has to stop meddling. He and the current FO are too many layers of incompetence.
Honestly, they are talented enough to compete in a bad division. But this partial sell off only works if they go after FA help this off season. And by FA help I don’t mean signing 7 relief pitchers while having a gap in the OF yet again
Given the state of the AL Central, the White Sox should be looking at 2024. Win 85 games and grab the division, then get a home series and… who knows?
if anybody knows the downside of a rebuild, it’s the White Sox (especially when they play Detroit lol)
Every player on this roster needs to be made available at the right price. It’s quite the hole that Reinsdorf dug them in, but now it’s time to keep digging…
No they don’t.
What’s the alternative? Squat on Cease and Robert until their contracts expire and they continue to be perpetually mediocre? At some point you have to play your hand. Either spend in free agency or blow it up again, and we already know they aren’t spending in the offseason. I’m just playing the numbers here.
In order to compete, the Sox need to buy 3 front end starters (couple #2’s and a #3). Kopech is a mess. They need to buy a bullpen. They need to buy a starting catcher, a 2nd baseman and a RF.
Who actually thinks that will happen?
Buy because they can’t develop, correct?
I’m not as down on their ability to develop as others, it’s just that the Sox don’t have the prospects to develop. They don’t have the prospects to trade in order to get MLB guys, so they have to buy everything during the offseason… Unless they want to trade Robert or Cease.
They’ll squat on him until he’s a rental starter and get Pennies on the dollar compared to what they could get now. White Sox gonna white sox
At the Giolito trade presser the fourth estate asked Hahn when (what year) he expected the team to be competitive again and he said he wasn’t going to put a timeline on that. Lol!! He was waring my Haaarvard tie. Can you believe it?!? You’ve been Hahned!!
As a Twins fan, I’m no longer concerned about the White Sox. Their window already closed, and almost before it even opened. Pretty much everything the White Sox could have been expecting and hoping for has gone wrong. Honestly, I was hoping the White Sox would work out and help the reputation of the AAA of MLB (AL Central).
Above all else, the White Sox need a new pitching coach so badly. A coach who explains how to and why throwing strikes is important
martras: Why on Earth were you concerned about the Sox last year let alone this year?
@avenger65
Cease, Kopech, Lynn, Giolito. Each one of them is potentially as good or better than any Twins starter. Fortunately, throwing strikes seems to be very difficult for the White Sox’s staff. Also, the White Sox had a lot of potential young, high end talent at the plate, too.
An MLB pitching coach does little for development. The entire org is poisoned from the core; they cannot develop young talent (Moncada, Kopech, Gio, Crochet, etc). All are Major League regulars, but never reached their full potential. Is Ethan Katz good? I don’t know, but I do know he’s far from the problem. What’s he going to say to a 28 year old veteran pitcher? Throw strikes?
@Returnthegame – MLB Pitching coaches have a major influence on how MLB pitchers identify and solve their issues.
White Sox pitchers are walking batters at a ridiculous rate, and that’s why they’re struggling.
martras – The Sox pitchers have historically had higher walk rates. It’s always been a problem for Cease and Kopech. Giolito and Lynn are better, but are still on the higher side. That’s just something they’re always going to deal with. Just like Jake Burger is always going to strike out 33% of the time. That’s not the hitting coach’s fault. It’s just part of Burger’s game.
I think the major key here is execution. MLB players have plans. Pitching coaches have plans. Katz is on record emphasizing the importance of getting ahead in counts, so obviously that has been the plan communicated with his staff. Just because Cease, Kopech, and Lynn have largely failed to get ahead in counts does not mean there wasn’t a plan – you also have to execute. Lynn is like 37 years old, if he isn’t throwing strikes, there’s not much Katz can help with.
@Spotswood, you’re kinda proving my point.
@Returnthegame, veteran pitchers get into bad habits and mechanical issues less frequently than young guys. That said, I can’t see any reason Lynn’s walk rate is higher this year based on all the metrics.
Not really…
exactly
This isn’t on Katz. I’m convinced it’s philosophical; entrenched in the fabric of this team. I’ve watched this for years now with their starters and relievers
I can’t really figure out why the Sox failed so much this year. Injuries were a factor but most teams dealt with similar circumstances. It will be an interesting offseason because they will need to take a hard look at everyone and make changes. I feel like their starting staff will be addressed in a big way and then they need to really assess why their lineup offense and defense is not clicking like it should. One big question is how much trust do you put into Tim Anderson rebounding and being the elite table setter he once was. His terrible season and complete power outage is a big reason why the offense isn’t producing like it should. Hopefully he finds his swing again and ignites them next season. I might look to sign a leadoff hitter (power speed avg) just in case TA doesn’t regain his prowess. If he does having two leadoff type bats is not a bad thing!
What do you think of Grifol ?? Is he a weak manager, or is it a chemistry issue, or is he actually the right guy for the job, that it’s chiefly a player problem ????
4.04 ERA is considered solid?
That’s about the definition of solid.
League average ERA is 4.32, and he has a 109 ERA+, so yeah.
He’s also had a 3.00 ERA in June and July, so he’s turned around from a rough start to the season.
Bummer.
As I always say, ERA is not a valid way to guage the effectiveness of a relief pitcher. Small sample sizes, plus inherited runners being charged to the previous guy and so forth.
Cease, Bummer and Robert Jr to the Mets for Parada, Vientos,, Alex Ramirez, Allan, Megill and 1 of our SS that was just drafted. Mets trade Scherzer, Canha, Carrasco, Robertson and Ottavino for relievers and pitching prospects
Your joking I’m sure. You have nothing to get Cease and Robert in Return. Mets only bigger loser than Sox.
“Bummer hasn’t allowed a home run yet this season, which isn’t sustainable”
Based on which statistical theory, the sooner or later it happens theory?
I haven’t tripped and fallen in the first year since my double hip replacement and 950+ miles of walking and running, but apparently it’s not sustainable. Well, that’s comforting. Oh well.
Start the Bummer home run watch. I’ll keep my eyes on the ground in front of me. Wish us both luck.
To quote from George of the Jungle: “Watch out for that tree!”
@whyhayzee – The “law of large numbers” in probability theory is why the term unsustainable was used.
Bummer has never pitched in an MLB season where he hasn’t allowed a home run. Also, Bummer would have actually allowed a home run if he had pitched exclusively in the following teams’ stadiums. Mets, Phillies, Cubs, Reds, Brewers, and Diamondbacks.
Bummer is elite at limiting fly balls and very good to elite at avoiding batters barreling up pitches, but he’s not going to remain perfect. MLB hitters are pretty good, too.
Except that Bummer’s innings for the rest of the year may not be a large enough number. It’s possible that he will make it through the year without giving up a home run. I wouldn’t use the term unsustainable at this point.
Watch, he will give up a home run in his next outing and someone will say he was due.
lol
The 2020 playoff run was the worst thing to happen to the White Sox as it caused them to veer off course in what was a rebuild to go all in on “trying” to win now. Bringing in Tony LaRussa and signing Keuchel, Lynn, Grandal, Kelly, Graveman, Hendriks, Benintendi to big money deals has been disastrous outside of another playoff run in ’21 that actually made them believe they’re own hype
I dunno, I’m starting to think LaRussa was not the problem with this team. Everyone wants to crap on him but maybe he was the only adult in the room at the time. Grifol certainly hasn’t turned anything around. Maybe they should have stuck with LaRussa’s bench coach who took over for the rest of the 22 season. Players responded to him.
These guys could seriously set themselves up by selling a lot of these guys. 2 top 3 prospects is an amazing start already.
“2 top 3 prospects” is relative to the quality of the system. Just about the only system as bad as the White Sox, is the Angel’s system. They didn’t get 2 of Baltimore’s top 2 prospects.
Spotswood:
Very true. But top 100 is top 100, and there aren’t many Catchers on that list. The fact they got one AND a former 2nd rounder for 2 rentals was not a bad start. I guess everything in context.
Clu, the catcher is a really solid prospect, although he seems like a bat 1st catcher at this point with questionable catching skills.
A “former 2nd round pick” doesn’t mean much once the kid gets in the system. Do you know these names? Matt Long, Nevin Griffith, Brent Morel, Josh Phegley, Jake Petricka, Erik Johnson, Keon Barnum, Tyler Danish, Spencer Adams, Alex Call, Gavin Sheets, Steele Walker, Matthew Thompson, Jared Kelley, Wes Kath, These are the White Sox 2nd round picks going back to 2006. So, 2nd round pick only means the guy got a nice signing bonus.
I’m sure Ky Farmer is a terrific kid, but his results aren’t matching pre-draft potential. He’s rated highly because, A) he was in the Angels system and B) because he flashed strike out ability with mid-high 90’s stuff pre-draft. Now his stuff sits in the low 90s and projects as a swing starter to middle relief arm.
Lynn will be packaged with someone like Graveman or Middleton to a contender. The wild card is Cease…two years of control left and that Scott Boars is his agent so you know he is going to free agency after the 2025 season. If your a Baltimore, Tampa, LA or some other team built to contend over the next few years you have to kick the tires verses spending $25MM per season on a free agent this off season. As far as Tim Anderson the CWS have to roll this dice and see if he regains his form the rest of the season and his value to be traded in the off season.
Quero looks like the real thing and I would trade for Ky Bush just because of his name.
They’re idiots if they don’t trade Cease. hey have a decent shot at the #3 overall pick next year, and even if they keep Cease, what’s going to change? With some good health, maybe they win 70 next year? Is that the l/t plan?
Meanwhile, Cease is looking like his 2022 numbers recently, but there is no guarantee that will last. Even Robert, who is real good, shouldn’t be off the table.
Cannot disagree with this more. Only way Cease is traded is if there is a massive haul with MLB starters in return. Even then, it is a stretch any team is willing to offer anything of that value today. His value is super high right now, and that will not change even into next year (unless he gets hurt). If the Sox are in this position next year at this time, then yes he will be actively on the block.
With any bit of good health, the Sox will win more than 70 games next year and possibly still contend for division…the AL Central is that terrible.
If u were gm maybe. They r gonna trade him for india though and a couple guys u will be disappointed in.
I have a tendency to agree with trading Cease. The White Sox have to consider their window closed and be looking for a return like they got for Chris Sale.
Unless someone gives you an offer that would give you MLB starting players in 2024 you don’t trade Cease. Unless he gets hurt his value is just as strong next year. He’s a top tier starter and look he’s only had 7 decisions in 21 starts which shows how awful the CWS is in maintaining leads after 5 innings.
Somebody is going to give a huge haul for Cease, just like Boston coughed up for Chris Sale. The White Sox are terrible in an absolutely awful division. The chances they turn it around at this point is pretty small.
Lynn is not the answer for the Dodgers! ♂️
The White Sox should listen to trade offers on every player on their roster – unlikely any of those “core” players will still be under contract with this team by the time they’re truly ready to compete again.
Deal every player except Cease if you think you can contend in 2024. Load up some prospect chips and spend away in the offseason. AL Central is up for grabs.
The Sox are not trading Cease or Robert at all. Their two best players with Robert being a generational type of player. That and ‘Im not sure Cease gets them what they want as he has under performed this year (which I pin mostly on Katz being asleep in the dugout too many times).
My guess is when the Sox are as bad next year as this year (as I doubt they make meaningful changes to make anything truly better) then Cease will go with the hope he is more like his Cy Young contending self from last season.
As for the rest. The Sox are only getting fringe type players back for what they have. The fact that they got a top 100 prospect for Gio and Lopez is a bit surprising to me. The bad thing is I doubt the Sox have enough in the org to actually develop these guys into good players who belong in the bigs, and not just telling their fan base that these are good players.