Report: Cardinals interested in White Sox ace Cease after adding 3 starters

The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the busiest teams this winter, and they may not be done adding players.

The Cardinals remain interested in acquiring Chicago White Sox ace right-hander Dylan Cease after adding starters Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson this offseason, sources told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

Cease has been heavily involved in offseason trade rumors since White Sox general manager Chris Getz said there were no untouchables on the roster and that he didn't like the team. Chicago has already traded left-hander Aaron Bummer and declined Tim Anderson's contract for next season.

The 27-year-old Cease is coming off a 2023 campaign in which he posted his highest ERA (4.58) since his rookie season, but his FIP (3.72) and K/9 (10.9) remained strong. He was one of the more durable hurlers the past three seasons, averaging 32 starts and more than 175 innings per campaign.

The Cardinals would likely have to send a huge package to the White Sox in exchange for Cease, who won't become a free agent until 2026 and is set to earn $8.8 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility.