VirginiaBrave
Well-known member
They need Cease.
They need Cease.
Through June and most of July, we found out what it looks like when the whole team is clicking. Now, we see regression to the mean. Frustrating, but no big deal overall.
With Giolito now gone, would the White Sox do kind of a start over and deal Cease? Don’t know. Grissom and Elder would probably be a start, but what else would Chicago want is the factor. That’s where the Braves could run into an issue IF Cease is even available. I would deal him if I was the White Sox, but who knows what they’re thinking
Cease has been my main target. He has 3 more years of control and can hit 100. Dude is good. Instead of Elder they may want AJSS instead. Grissom and Shawver would be a strong 2 to put in a package and then probably a couple of filler pieces. I highly doubt Fried is coming back after next year so that would give AA a replacement and not have to go the FA route to do it. Just seems like an AA move. Strider, Cease, and Fried in the playoffs would be hard to beat.
I think that's a factor that gets left out of a lot of thinking. Anthopoulos may have to settle for a rental if he makes any deadline deal, but I think he wants to maximize the chances with the core he's assembled and do it without having to go heavily into free agency (and likely overpay). Cease fits that thinking to a tee. The White Sox may want Smith-Shawver and not Elder, as you say, and with Grissom you have the start to a deal the White Sox might take. My concern is that if there is a bidding war for Cease, will we have enough ammo to match the Dodgers and other teams with more minor league depth.
And for those concerned, the Braves still have over 99% chance to make the playoffs and win the division, per Fangraphs and Baseball Reference.
Those percentages as of today mean nothing. Remember 2011? I do.