White Sox Trade Rumors: Yankees Pursue Dylan Cease; Top Prospect Spencer Jones Not Part of Proposal

The Yankees are looking to bolster their starting rotation, with the potential absence of reigning American League Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole for an extended period.

New York previously participated in the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes and was involved in trade discussions with the Milwaukee Brewers for Corbin Burnes. Yamamoto signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Burnes ended up with the division rival Baltimore Orioles.

Asking For The Moon

The White Sox are known to have a high asking price for Cease, as they see him as a crucial piece in their ongoing rebuild. Despite improvements in their minor-league system from trades last season, the White Sox must further bolster the farm.

However, Yankees' top prospect Spencer Jones isn't part of the reported trade proposal. Jones is highly regarded for his rare combination of size, athleticism, and power.

While Jones spent his minor-league time in center field, he primarily played right field in college, a position from which the White Sox haven't found meaningful production for over a decade.

What's On Tap Next?

Cease is a durable pitcher with minimal injury history, but injuries often occur to hurlers and the White Sox have had a poor track record of health in recent history. Given these factors and the Yankees' likely need for rotation help, this seems like a prime opportunity for White Sox general manager Chris Getz to strike.

Of course, the return has to be to Getz's liking. But moving Cease should give the White Sox a crop of players to help solidify their minor-league system as they rebuild.