A subplot to the intriguing starting pitchers available in free agency this offseason revolves around the possibility of Dylan Cease and Corbin Burnes being traded. The Chicago White Sox, under the leadership of general manager Chris Getz, have openly stated their willingness to entertain trade offers for Cease as well as other players on their roster, including Eloy Jiménez.

During the 2023 trade deadline, the White Sox acted as sellers, sending Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for prospects Ky Bush and Edgar Quero. The Los Angeles Dodgers also showed interest in Giolito but ended up acquiring Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn from the White Sox a couple of days later.

While there has been significant interest in Cease, the White Sox have yet to make significant progress towards trading their talented right-hander. According to Jason Beck of MLB.com, Getz explained that the White Sox will only consider a Cease trade if it benefits the team and improves their overall roster. Getz emphasized that any trade must be a good fit for all parties involved.

Speculation surrounding a potential Cease trade has been ongoing, with some suggesting that the White Sox were waiting for top free-agent starters to sign before making any moves. Aaron Nola quickly re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, Yoshinobu Yamamoto joined the Dodgers on a record contract, and Shōta Imanaga reportedly agreed to terms with the Chicago Cubs recently. Notable starting pitchers like Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery remain available in free agency as the 2024 season approaches.

The interested teams in a potential Cease trade include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and Boston Red Sox. These teams have been connected to discussions about acquiring Cease at various points during the offseason, highlighting the widespread interest in the talented pitcher. As the offseason progresses, it remains to be seen if a trade involving Dylan Cease will materialize and which team will ultimately secure his services.