White Sox rotation looks bleak following Dylan Cease trade

The White Sox finally parted ways with starting pitcher Dylan Cease, trading him to the Padres on Wednesday. 

Cease had been on the trading block since last July, but Chicago held fast to their demands. The White Sox went the entire offseason without moving him, and it appeared he would stay in the Windy City until, at least, the trade deadline. 

When news emerged that Yankees ace Gerrit Cole was injured, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that New York submitted a new offer for Cease. Evidently, the White Sox weren't impressed. However, it did create interest in Cease again, and San Diego was able to make its move. 

So, who will be in rotation for the White Sox with Cease officially gone? 

Michael Kopech would seem to be a lock, but he's coming off a horrible season with a 5.43 ERA and an unsightly WHIP of 1.59. 

The Sox signed Erick Fedde this offseason, but over six MLB seasons, his career ERA is 5.41, and his WHIP is 1.630. Last year, he pitched in the KBO with a sparkling ERA of 2.00 and a WHIP of .954. Did he figure something out in Korea, or will he slide back toward the subpar performance he established in the majors?

Michael Soroka is an interesting candidate. He was terrific in his first full season with the Braves in 2019, but he's only pitched in 10 games since. If his injuries are behind him, he may return to the form that garnered him a second-place finish in the 2019 Rookie of the Year voting. 

It only gets worse from there for the Sox. Chris Flexen's ERA was 6.86 last year between the Mariners and Rockies. 

Garrett Crochet has pitched in 72 MLB games, all in relief. He was injured during the 2022 season and most of 2023. 

The last candidate is Jared Shuster, who started 11 games for the Braves last season but had an ERA of 5.81.

Soroka seems to be the only one with some promise, but it's been long since his rookie campaign. How many innings can they expect from him since he has just 46 over the last four seasons? Kopech has had much more recent success, but his 2023 was awful. And who knows how Fedde's KBO numbers will translate back into the majors? 

While this group has potential, there are many more red flags. If some of these pitchers can return to the skillsets displayed in the past, if past injury issues don't return, if, if, if, you see the point. Without the reliability Cease offered as the anchor of this staff, it could be a long, rough year for the White Sox rotation.