Two front-runners emerging to land Dylan Cease?

Dylan Cease might find his new home with either the Atlanta Braves or the Baltimore Orioles, according to Bob Nightengale’s recent report in USA Today. The Braves and Orioles are now considered front-runners in the race to acquire Cease, who is currently being actively pursued by the Chicago White Sox as they undergo a rebuilding phase.

Initially, the Los Angeles Dodgers were believed to be leading the charge for Cease a few weeks ago. However, this speculation has lost credibility as the Dodgers have opted for a different veteran starter, trading away key assets in the process.

Cease, a 27-year-old right-hander, earned recognition as the AL Cy Young runner-up and secured a spot in the All-MLB selection for the 2022 season. Despite a slight regression in the past season, Cease maintains one of the most impressive arsenals of swing-and-miss pitches in baseball. Additionally, he comes with the advantage of two more seasons under team control.

Both the Braves and Orioles are in the market for starting pitchers. The Braves, having missed out on Aaron Nola and Sonny Gray, are actively seeking another starter. Meanwhile, the Orioles, who focused on bolstering their bullpen during the offseason, could benefit from adding Cease to their rotation. The key factor in this potential acquisition will be which team is willing to part with the necessary young prospects to secure Cease’s services.