With Cease in demand, how will the White Sox proceed?

This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin's White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- For the last 10 minutes prior to the 2023 Trade Deadline, all eyes primarily focused on Dylan Cease.

At least, that’s how things played out in Arlington in relation to the White Sox. I can attest to that fact, as I was one of the three White Sox writers in attendance.

When Cease went to check his phone while situated in the visitors' clubhouse of Globe Life Field, we watched for any indication that he'd received the call. When the right-hander took his glove and exited the clubhouse, we wondered if he was going to work out or if it was the prelude to clearing out his locker.

Rick Hahn, the White Sox general manager at the time, had already moved six veteran hurlers with various levels of soon-expiring contracts, as well as third baseman Jake Burger in an effort to change the base of the underachieving team. So, trading Cease, who was under control through 2025, made sense if the return was outstanding. Aside from center fielder Luis Robert Jr. -- an All-Star, Gold Glove Award winner and, in time, Silver Slugger winner -- Cease was the team’s biggest trade chip.

Nothing materialized on Aug. 1, and Cease started on Aug. 2 against the eventual World Series champions. Fast forward four months and this Cease situation is playing out again. Only this time, we’ll be searching for Cease news during next week's Winter Meetings at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn. -- assuming nothing transpires beforehand.

There already has been talk of interest from the Dodgers and Braves. Any team viewing itself as a contender should be in pursuit of Cease.

Following his breakout 2022, Cease finished second to Justin Verlander in the American League Cy Young voting with a 14-8 record, 2.20 ERA and 227 strikeouts over 184 innings. His ERA rose to 4.58 in 2023, but Cease still fanned 214 batters in 177 innings. His durability also is key, as he has totaled 97 starts and 526 2/3 innings in the past three years.

But the idea of trading Cease doesn’t exist in a vacuum for current general manager Chris Getz and his front office. Getz already went on record saying he doesn't believe the White Sox are well-rounded enough. He declined 2024 contractual options on organization staples such as shortstop Tim Anderson and closer Liam Hendriks. He also traded veteran left-hander Aaron Bummer to Atlanta for a five-player return.

How many players from this 101-loss team in 2023 will be gone as the White Sox harbor some sort of idea for ’24 contention? The demand is there, but the return will dictate the final decisions -- or even destinations -- for Cease, as well as someone like designated hitter Eloy Jiménez.

“There are no untouchables,” Getz said during his hour-long interview session at the GM Meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz. “Dylan, obviously, is an established Major League starter, and he’s got front-end ability, and there isn’t a team that wouldn’t want Dylan Cease on their roster.

“Eloy is a power bat that any lineup would benefit from having. Those types of moves are under consideration -- they are. Once again, if we feel like we can multiply or strengthen our group both presently and, in the future, then we’re going to look at that.”

A word such as "rebuild" has been stridently pushed aside by the White Sox leaders. Should they trade key guys, the White Sox would have to receive some additions who can fill out the roster if the focus is on retooling. Once again, Cease is at the forefront of that conversation.

“It’s got to make sense. We’ve got a rotation that needs to fill out,” Getz said. “We’ve got some young arms in our system that are maturing. I don’t want to rush them to the Major Leagues.

“I think that’s unfair to them and unfair to the White Sox. Any return for any player -- if we’re trying to address the pitching needs that we have -- it needs to make sense.”