With the MLB GM meetings underway in Scottsdale, there is plenty of buzz abound regarding free agency and possible trades. As the Atlanta Braves come off of another NLDS exit despite a phenomenal regular season, those are both markets that many expect Alex Anthopoulos to make a big move, particularly with a focus on upgrading the club's starting pitching.
And it seems there might be one possible ace available on the trade market that should pique the Braves' interest: White Sox starter Dylan Cease.
It's clear that new White Sox general manager Chris Getz is tasked with completely reshaping the roster on the Southside this offseason, something made evident by not picking up Tim Anderson's option. Getz furthered that in Scottsdale too, saying that no player on the White Sox roster is untouchable.
That obviously includes Cease, who was pedestrian in 2023 in the midst of a bad situation, but performed as a legitimate Cy Young candidate in the 2022 season. He's a young arm still under club control through the 2025 season and has already shown elite potential on the mound -- the exact type of player we've seen Anthopoulos get aggressive and trade for.
The Braves have done a nice job of quickly replenishing their prospect pool after the Matt Olson and Sean Murphy trades of the past two offseasons. However, if Anthopoulos does make a trade, there are a handful of prospects that should only be made available in a Dylan Cease trade, and no other deal.
3. Braves should only trade AJ Smith-Shawver in a Dylan Cease trade
AJ Smith-Shawver experienced a meteoric rise through the Braves farm system all the way to the big leagues this season, starting out the year in High-A Rome, pitching just five games between there and Double-A Mississippi, and then throwing 10 games with Triple-A Gwinnett while being called up sporadically to help the Braves in Atlanta with six appearances.
At just 20 years old, though, Smith-Shawver acquitted himself well in some tough spots with Atlanta, especially given that he was in rookie leagues just two years ago. Over six appearances and five starts with the Braves, he posted a 4.26 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP over 25.1 innings. He was far from perfect, but there's good reason that he's listed as the organization's top prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Given that the Braves would be looking to upgrade the future of their rotation in a trade for Dylan Cease, Smith-Shawver would be an interesting prospect to float to the White Sox. He would give that organization a younger option with potentially more upside -- and longer club control -- for their rebuild while sending Atlanta a potential other ace to add to Spencer Strider and Max Fried (for now) to help push them over the hump as World Series contenders.
At the same time, if the Braves aren't trading for Cease, there isn't another pitcher on the trade market -- unless the Brewers look to deal Corbin Burnes, which seems unlikely for now -- who could have the impact that Cease could. In those trades, giving up Smith-Shawver wouldn't be worth it. Dealing him to the White Sox, however, would make a world of sense.
2. Braves should only trade Hurston Waldrep for Dylan Cease
Using much of the same logic as we did regarding Smith-Shawver, the Braves No. 2 ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline is another young right-hander, 2023 first-round pick Hurston Waldrep. And while he could be an asset that could entice the White Sox as a 21-year-old with a strong track record thus far in the minor leagues, if it's not a trade for Cease, he's a future piece for the Braves rotation.
Waldrep was phenomenal at every stop throughout his 2023 season -- and there were a lot of stops. He began the year pitching ust one game in Single-A before going to High-A Rome for three outings. He posted a 0.75 ERA over 12 innings pitched in those starts, which was enough to earn him the call up to Double-A Mississippi.
It was again only three starts at that level for Waldrep and, despite rapidly facing elevated competition coming out of college from Southern Miss, he continued to deliver tremendous results. Over 10.0 innings in those three starts, the youngster had a 2.70 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. That then earned him one outing with the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, wherein he threw 4.1 innings in a start, allowing no runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five.
Waldrep is another quick-ascending prospect for the Braves organization, which has to be something enticing for the White Sox, but also Atlanta as well. If Anthopoulos isn't getting a pitcher like Cease who has already been a Cy Young candidate before he's signed his second MLB contract, then letting a prospect of Waldrep's caliber go in a trade would be a mistake.
If it means bringing Cease to Atlanta, however, Waldrep is a player the Braves front office would have to seriously consider including in a trade package for the White Sox.
1. Braves should only trade Vaughn Grissom for Dylan Cease
Coming into the 2023 season after the departure of Dansby Swanson, many expected that late-2022 call-up Vaughn Grissom would be the one to take his place at shortstop. Instead, it was veteran Orlando Arcia which, until he poked the bear against the Phillies with his locker room comments, was the right decision as the former Brewer earned an All-Star appearance.
Grissom still spent some time in the bigs this season, though, as an injury replacement at times and continued to be a solid bat at the plate. In 23 games and 80 plate appearances, he slashed .280/.313/.347, which was worse than his debut moments in 2022, but still showing a lot of promise as a productive middle infielder.
Having said that, as promising of a prospect as Grissom is, there isn't an obvious place for him right now in the Braves lineup barring a position switch to left field (which isn't out of the question). Ozzie Albies has second base occupied and Arcia more than earned his keep at shortstop. That makes Grissom arguably the organization's most valuable trade asset.
To part with Grissom, however, the trade has to be right. And the right trade being for Dylan Cease in a vacuum would make a ton of sense. Outside of that vacuum, it makes even more sense. With Tim Anderson departing, Grissom could fill right into the hole at second base for the White Sox and make him a coveted piece in return for a Cease trade.
Grissom being traded would return a ton of value no matter where he went. But for Chicago, he could have more value than to other clubs, which could help force the White Sox to part with Cease in a trade to the Braves.