The New York Yankees made a final push to acquire right-handed starting pitcher Dylan Cease from the Chicago White Sox before he was eventually traded to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.
Jon Morosi, reporting for MLB Network, confirmed the Yankees’ last-ditch effort:
Jon Morosi @jonmorosiCan confirm the Yankees made a final trade proposal for Dylan Cease in the last 24 to 48 hours.
The Yankees’ pursuit of Cease underscores their ongoing quest to bolster their starting rotation, despite earlier offseason acquisitions like Marcus Stroman. Cease, aged 28, showcased his talent in 2022 with an impressive second-place finish in the American League Cy Young race.
His stellar season included a record of 14-8, a notable 2.20 ERA (1.11 WHIP), and an impressive 227 strikeouts over 32 starts. However, his performance dipped in 2023, recording a 7-9 record, a 4.58 ERA (1.42 WHIP), and 214 strikeouts over 33 starts.
The urgency to fortify their pitching staff heightened with the absence of staff ace Gerrit Cole, sidelined for at least one-to-two months due to a right elbow issue requiring further evaluation. With Cease no longer an option, the Yankees may pivot their focus towards other available pitchers like Blake Snell, who remains one of the most sought-after free agents.
However, the competition for Snell’s services is fierce. The San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels, and Philadelphia Phillies have all expressed interest. Nevertheless, Snell’s preference appears to lean towards joining the Angels, as reported by ESPN’s Buster Olney during a recent Baseball Tonight podcast.
In addition to exploring external options, the Yankees could consider reuniting with Jordan Montgomery, a left-handed pitcher who previously played for the team from 2017 to 2022 before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. Montgomery’s notable performance for the Texas Rangers during their championship-winning season adds another intriguing possibility for the Yankees.
As the start of the season approaches on March 28, the Yankees’ rotation currently features Marcus Stroman, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, and Nestor Cortes. However, further roster adjustments remain a possibility before the season opener.
