White Sox: Everything to know about Rich Hahn’s potential fire sale

The Chicago White Sox are in position to be an aggressive seller in July. Here’s some of their trade assets, including right-hander Dylan Cease.

When the Chicago White Sox fired Tony La Russa as manager, and hired Pedro Grifol to replace him, they envisioned a young, talented team finally maximizing its potential.

Through 29 games, the White Sox have arguably been baseball’s biggest disappointment. They are 8-21 and are 1-9 in their last 10 games, establishing themselves as perhaps the biggest potential seller before the July 31 trade deadline.

The White Sox have a plethora of intriguing trade assets. On expiring contracts, they have right-handers Lucas Giolito and Mike Clevinger, relievers Keynan Middleton and Reynaldo Lopez, as well as catcher Yasmani Grandal and second baseman Elvis Andrus. Players signed through next season include shortstop Tim Anderson, closer Liam Hendricks and right-hander Lance Lynn.

White Sox rumors: Will Dylan Cease go in potential fire sale?

But the White Sox’s biggest trade asset is star right-hander Dylan Cease. The 27-year-old has established himself as one of the best young pitchers in the sport and is coming off a season in which he posted a 2.20 ERA and 227 strikeouts in 184 innings, finishing second in the American League Cy Young voting.

Cease is signed through the 2025 season, meaning any potential acquiring team would have him for as many as three postseason runs. It makes him extremely valuable and would require a substantial haul to acquire him from the White Sox. While there is history of such deals taking place in previous seasons, it’s unclear in owner Jerry Reinsdorf would sign off on such a trade considering that it would signal the team punting on not only 2023, but 2024 as well.

Even if the White Sox don’t trade Cease, their other options — both on expiring contracts and players signed through 2024 — make them the most intriguing early seller of the 2023 season.