According to USA Today’s report on Tuesday, the New York Yankees, feeling uncertain about their pitching staff, have submitted a fresh proposal to the Chicago White Sox for their star pitcher, Dylan Cease.
The new general manager of the Chicago team, Chris Getz, is open to trading Cease, but reportedly at a high asking price, which some teams find excessive. Getz is said to be particularly interested in acquiring outfield prospect Spencer Jones from the Yankees, although the latest offer from the team does not include Jones, as reported by USA Today.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone mentioned on Monday that Gerrit Cole, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his pitching elbow. This comes after the right-handed pitcher has required more recovery time than usual for this time of the year.
As of now, the Yankees have not disclosed the results of the tests.
While starting pitchers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery remain unsigned in the free agent market, Dylan Cease presents a more cost-effective option for the Yankees, especially since he is currently participating in spring training with the White Sox.
Cease recently inked a one-year, $8 million deal in January to avoid arbitration, and he remains eligible for arbitration for one more season before hitting unrestricted free agency in 2026.
Having debuted with the White Sox in 2019, Cease boasts a career record of 43-35, with a 3.83 ERA and 792 strikeouts across 658 innings pitched in 123 games, all as a starter.
During this spring, he has started two games and pitched a total of five innings, conceding only one run on a solo home run while striking out six batters.
On the other hand, Spencer Jones, aged 22, is regarded as the No. 2 prospect in the Yankees’ organization by MLB.com. In the 2023 season, split between high-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset, Jones compiled a batting average of .267 with 16 home runs, 66 RBIs, and 43 runs scored in 117 games.