Another blockbuster!
Yes, a blockbuster.
The Dude and the Slammers, who have come together for a few big name deals over the year, did it again on Thursday.
The Slammers acquired Cody Bellinger and Joe Ryan, along with a seventh-round pick, for Dylan Cease, Nick Gonzales and a 12th-round pick.
Oh, and it involved me, so of course I'll overdo it. Dude is the lucky guy in the passenger seat for the ego-trip.
And on paper, the Dude is looking pretty after this deal.
Dylan Cease broke out big time in his age 25 season, striking out 226 batters in 165.2 innings last season. He went 13-7 in 32 starts with a 3.91 ERA. Cease had some really strong stretches to lower the ERA, but he had some bad ones, too — hence the 10 quality starts in 32 starts. His 68 walks (1.249 WHIP) helped keep him from getting quality starts.
So, there is that to be concerned about, but in no way should that scare the Dude. If there's one thing we know, the White Sox know how to get pitchers to focus in on their strengths and cut down the walks. Lucas Giolito and Carlos Rodon are prime examples of that.
If we see that similar correction, we could be in for a very special couple seasons out of Cease.
That is certainly the hope for the Dude in this deal because he gave up a lot of potential.
We all saw Cody Bellinger's ceiling (.305/.406, 47 homers, 115 RBIs, 121 runs, 15 SBs in 2019), and we've seen his rock bottom a year ago with multiple injuries (.165/.240 10 homers, 36 RBIs, 39 runs in 2021), so one would think Bellinger has to be somewhere closer to the middle.
His projections suggest he'll be better (.239/.328 31 homers, 90 RBIs, 93 runs, 11 SBs), and I, of course, think he can exceed those projections, but even if they are spot on, it's just what I wanted from a center fielder at this point. Power, run production and speed on the basepaths.
Bellinger battled multiple injuries, as I mentioned, and really didn't feel full strength until the postseason. That's where in 12 games he batted .353/.436 with a homer, 7 RBIs, 5 runs and 5 stolen bases.
That's the Bellinger that Dude is worried about seeing in 2022.
Even more scary could be if Joe Ryan, a pitcher from the Rays system who was reluctantly given to the Twins in the Nelson Cruz deal, develops into that top-tier pitcher. Ryan has shown excellent control at all levels, compiling 326 strikeouts to just 53 walks in 226 innings in 2018, 2019 and 2021. He went 15-8 with a 2.67 ERA in 42 starts and posted a 0.87 WHIP.
He got the call to the majors with the Twins, and in five starts, he struck out 30 and walked just five with a 0.79 WHIP. The Tigers tagged him for some runs in the season finale so his ERA in just 26.2 innings of work went to 4.05, but he has the makings of a front-line starter.
So you can see why I'm personally excited about this deal even though I fully admit that I think Dylan Cease makes a strong Cy Young run this year. I will absolutely consider him a front-runner, and come Jargon MLB preview time, I may even select him to win it.
And that's why the addition of Nick Gonzales — yes, the Dude made me add him in — could be another major factor when looking at this deal a year from now. Gonzales dominated college and was the fifth-overall pick in the 2020 JLB Draft to the Slammers. Many couldn't believe it then, some still can't, but he certainly was worth it.
He batted .302 with 18 homers, 54 RBIs and seven stolen bases in his first year of minor league ball, and he's easily a top prospect at second base. Seeing as he is with the Pirates, it may take until 2023 to get the call, but there's no doubt he'll be "ready" by mid-summer. His strikeout rate last year was a bit concerning, especially for a guy who showed great discipline in college at New Mexico State — he struck out 40 times and walked 66 times over his junior and senior seasons.
With four really interesting players who you can make cases for great seasons/careers, you can see why this is truly a blockbuster deal. (Looking at you, Parker.)
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