MLB Rumors: White Sox offer ‘small opening’ in Dylan Cease, Luis Robert trade talks

Nearing the deadline, the White Sox have communicated that two of their stars, Dylan Cease and Luis Robert Jr., could be moved for the right price.

The Chicago White Sox have been keeping their fingers on the pulse of the MLB trade market, and they’re reportedly open to moving a few superstars if the right offer comes along.

Pitcher Dylan Cease and infielder Luis Robert were previously considered untouchable, but market demand changes, and Chicago may have changed its mind, too.

Starting pitching is one of the hottest commodities right now in light of the Max Scherzer trade. The White Sox have generally held a “back-off” policy on ace Dylan Cease; however, their approach to the upcoming trade deadline has become more open-minded in the last few days.

Chicago figure to listen to offers for Cease and anyone else on the roster “right down to the end”, according to a new report by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.

"The White Sox are listening on Dylan Cease and everyone else on their roster. The perception among many in the industry is that Cease and center fielder Luis Robert Jr. remain all but untouchable. But some rival executives see the White Sox’s willingness to entertain offers as an opening, however small."

It’s a very, very small opening, but it’s an opening nonetheless.

MLB Rumors: White Sox rumored to be listening to Dylan Cease, Luis Robert offers

Cease, the 2022 AL Cy Young finalist, has declined a bit in his fifth season in Chicago, posting a 4.15 ERA and 1.341 WHIP. At 27 years old, Cease could be a pivotal piece for any needy franchise willing to bite on a solid starting pitcher, and the White Sox could use the return on Cease to compete for far beyond 2024.

Plus, Chicago has already traded five pitchers this summer. What’s with one more?

Luis Robert just earned his first All-Star in a tremendous season in which he’s slugging .269/.323/.559 with an OPS of .881. The 25-year-old seems like a player the White Sox would want to keep around, giving the team an offensive beefiness to potentially dominate the lackluster AL Central.

But by Rosenthal’s recent account, both Cease and Robert are up for grabs. In the vein of due diligence, the White Sox are putting everything on the table. Come 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Chicago’s future could take a whole new shape.