The baseball offseason is officially underway, and as per tradition, its biggest star Scott Boras has risen to the surface. Boras, baseball’s top-grossing agent, has a proven track record in taking big names to free agency and getting them paid.
White Sox ace Dylan Cease recently switched his representation to Boras last offseason. This could be bad news for the White Sox if they want to retain him after his contract is up. After posting a career year that saw him finish with a 14-8 record, 2.20 ERA, and 227 strikeouts, Cease has suddenly lined himself up for a big payday. The 27-year-old was named as one of three finalists for the AL Cy Young Award in 2022.
While he isn’t up for free agency for another three years, he may price himself out of Chicago if he continues on this upward trajectory. Carlos Rodon was the last Boras client to leave the South Side in search of a bigger payday. Cease is more talented than Rodon and doesn’t have the same checkered injury history.
It may be in Rick Hahn’s interest to lock up Cease to an extension if they want hang onto him long-term. Hahn has a history of locking up players to team-friendly long-term deals by paying them early. Obviously, there are many factors involved when making that decision. The White Sox are in the midst of their championship window, with more pressing holes to fill. Allocating money toward a player they have locked up for the next three years isn’t their top priority.
As we saw with Lucas Giolito, there is also a possibility that Cease will take a step back, lowering his value. The White Sox also have decisions to make with Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn next season. Giolito will become a free agent, while Lynn has a club option in 2024. Paying Giolito could be a factor for Cease’s extension.
On the flip side, Cease may not want an extension. Boras sees the way he is throwing and the talent he has. This could lead to a mega contract on the open market if Cease continues to produce. Max Scherzer, another dominant right-hander, received a three-year deal worth $130 million last offseason. Cease isn’t on Scherzer’s level yet, but he has the potential to be.
During the GM meetings in Las Vegas, Boras told reporters that they would seriously consider any extension offers. Boras helped lock up Stephen Strasburg to a seven-year extension with the Nationals in 2016.
“I think with any young players that has showed elite, top-of-the league performance, usually the teams – we just listen,” Boras said.
“We’re always open to what they have to say and how they look at it.”
Hahn has yet to come out and say anything about giving Cease an extension. At this point, he has no reason to. The two sides did have preliminary talks about an extension before the 2019 season.
Cease is arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason, so he should receive a slight raise heading into next year. In the meantime, he will have to sit back and wait while taking care of his business on the field.
“Our job is just listen,” Boras said. “Take it in, and then we transfer that to Dylan and see what he wants to do.”
Cease is as good as gone. Eventually his arbitration numbers will be come unpalatable to Reinsdorf. This is his first year for arbitration and he is being projected for $5 plus million. Boras does not buy out arbitration years… nor does he do hometown discounts.
If Cease has another banner year, Reinsdorf will dump him to avoid having to pay market price.