They’re open ears and willing to deal the right-hander, but they’re not hard-pressed to move him immediately.

“We’re in a position of leverage, because I don’t think we have to trade Cease,” White Sox assistant general manager Josh Barfield said at the Winter Meetings. “It’s nice, you know. We have two years of control and he’s a really, really good pitcher who definitely helps us next year. At the same time, we’ve got to be smart and we’ve got to listen to everything.

“If we make a move, if we don’t, we’re just going to be patient and wait for the right one.”

That’s why, according to Jon Heyman, the White Sox are “pulling back” on trading Cease. They’re waiting for coveted, Japanese star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and other blue chip free agents to sign first before dealing Cease. That way, they can maximize his value in a scarcer pitching market.

From a broader perspective, Shohei Ohtani’s decision will likely ease the log jam in MLB free agency, too. The MLB Winter Meetings, which finished on Wednesday, were uncharacteristically quiet. That’s part of the reason the White Sox don’t feel pressured to move Cease.

That doesn’t mean, however, that they didn’t have conversations about Cease’s availability during the meetings. WSCR’s Bruce Levine reported a deal the White Sox asked from the Reds for Cease.

This hypothetical deal would yield the White Sox the No. 2, 6, 9 and 11 prospects in the Reds’ robust farm system; their farm system ranked fifth in the league from MLB.com’s standings.

Rhett Lowder and Chase Petty are both considered future starters in the big leagues. Carlos Jorge (No. 9) is expected to take his time in the minor league systems, but become a four-tool second baseman. Sammy Stafura (No. 11) is supposed to make a smooth transition into a major league shortstop, too.

That’s a healthy command for Cease, who seemingly doesn’t fit the team’s competitive window if they continue to dismantle the roster and bolster their farm system. And if it’s not the Reds, surely, there will be other interested suitors with plenty to offer.

The White Sox are handling Cease’s situation intelligently. Without Yamamoto, Ohtani, or the other blue chip starters in the free agent market, the White Sox are dangling their ace in front of starter-hungry teams for a healthy price. You can never have too much pitching and there’s a chance contenders start to get desperate without a blue chip piece.

The question is — can Chris Getz and the White Sox execute and maximize Cease’s value? Remember, he came back down to Earth in 2023 after a stellar 2022. Last season, he finished with a suboptimal 4.58 ERA. Stay tuned.

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The stove heated up so quickly that Jon Morosi believed the right-handed pitcher would be traded before the Winter Meetings commenced in Nashville. Bob Nightengale told NBC Sports Chicago’s Chuck Garfien he believes there is a “90 percent chance” Cease would be traded.

On Wednesday, we got an insight into what one of those trades for Cease looks like, courtesy of Bruce Levine.

We knew the asking price for Cease would be high. And why shouldn’t it? Yes, Cease returned to Earth in 2023 after a flawless 2022 season that saw him finish with a 2.20 ERA and the second-most AL votes for the Cy Young award.

But, as Levine mentioned, he has two more seasons under club control and has firmly set his ceiling on the mound. If you’re a contending team looking for a boost in starting pitching, Cease should rank near the top of the list.

As such, the White Sox believe they stand in a “position of leverage” in any transaction for Cease. They’re not sold on moving him immediately. So any offer they field for their ace should be enticing.

“We’re in a position of leverage, because I don’t think we have to trade Cease,” White Sox assistant general manager Josh Barfield said at the Winter Meetings. “It’s nice, you know. We have two years of control and he’s a really, really good pitcher who definitely helps us next year. At the same time, we’ve got to be smart and we’ve got to listen to everything.

“If we make a move, if we don’t, we’re just going to be patient and wait for the right one.”

The deal the White Sox reportedly pitched to the Reds feels like a stellar win. If agreed upon, the White Sox would receive the No. 2, 6, 9 and 11 prospects in the Reds’ robust farm system; their farm system ranked fifth in the league from MLB.com’s standings.

Lowder and Petty are both considered future starters in the big leagues. Carlos Jorge (No. 9) is expected to take his time in the minor league systems, but become a four-tool second baseman. Sammy Stafura (No. 11) is supposed to make a smooth transition into a major league shortstop, too.

That’s a healthy command for Cease, who seemingly doesn’t fit the team’s competitive window if they continue to dismantle the roster and bolster their farm system. And if it’s not the Reds, surely, there will be other interested suitors with plenty to offer.

Morosi told Garfien in a separate interview the Atlanta Braves are an option, even though recent reporting would suggest they’re out on Cease. The Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers are possible landing spots, too. He also said the San Francisco Giants could get involved if they fail to land Shohei Ohtani or Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The favorite, in Morosi’s eyes? The Orioles.

“Their farm system is so good, and their need for pitching is so clear that I think that Dylan Cease to Baltimore is where I’m going to predict that winds up. It makes sense on paper for a number of reasons,” he said.

The starting pitcher market is healthy. It will likely dictate the trade offers the White Sox receive for Cease. Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Aaron Nola lead the charge.

Cease is still a blue chip package next to those names. But their signings will certainly have an impact on his trade market. Stay tuned.

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Some even suggested a deal could’ve been done before the Winter Meetings. Bob Nightengale told NBC Sports Chicago’s Chuck Garfien in late November he believes there’s a “90 percent chance” the Sox trade Cease.

From the White Sox perspective, they feel comfortable about Cease’s market. They believe they hold the upper hand in any trade negotiations for the right-hander since they aren’t steadfast on moving him.

“We’re in a position of leverage, because I don’t think we have to trade Cease,” White Sox assistant general manager Josh Barfield said at the Winter Meetings. “It’s nice, you know. We have two years of control and he’s a really, really good pitcher who definitely helps us next year. At the same time, we’ve got to be smart and we’ve got to listen to everything.

“If we make a move, if we don’t, we’re just going to be patient and wait for the right one.”

Cease, 27, has spent the entirety of his five-year career in the major leagues with the White Sox. Originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs, they traded him and Eloy Jiménez to the South Side in exchange for Jose Quintana.

In 2019, Cease immediately became a starter in the White Sox starting rotation. He climbed to stupendous success in 2022, earning second place voting for the Cy Young award from a season he finished with a 2.20 ERA and a blistering 227 strikeouts.

He came back down to Earth in 2023, finishing the year with a 4.58 ERA from 33 starts and 177 innings pitched. Still, his ceiling is firmly set as a top pitcher in the league. His slider and knuckle curveball are detrimental to opposing batters and his durability is admirable.

The White Sox have Cease under club control for two more seasons. Last season, they settled on a one-year deal worth $5.7 million in arbitration. This season, he’s expected to yield somewhere around $8 million, according to Spotrac’s estimates.

Along with the Atlanta Braves, who are looking to bring the hometown Cease back to the south, MLB insider Jon Morosi told Garfien in a separate interview the Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers are possible landing spots for Cease. He also said the San Francisco Giants could get involved if they fail to land Shohei Ohtani or Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The favorite, in Morosi’s eyes? The Orioles.

“Their farm system is so good, and their need for pitching is so clear that I think that Dylan Cease to Baltimore is where I’m going to predict that winds up. It makes sense on paper for a number of reasons,” he said.

If Cease is, in fact, traded from the White Sox this season, it sounds like the front office is promising a winning return in exchange for the right-handed ace.

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In fact, White Sox GM Chris Getz said as much Monday at the Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tennessee.

“Luis Robert is a very difficult player to move and expect that your club is going to get better because of it,” Getz said. “That being said, there might be a club out there that is willing to offer something that you feel can help you immediately and in the long term.

“But we’re talking about one of the best players in baseball, and we’re very fortunate to have him with the Chicago White Sox. So I have a tough time seeing him wearing another uniform next year.”

This is in step with reporting from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale that the White Sox are open to trading every player on the roster except for one — Robert Jr.

Another insider, however, is pushing back on the notion that the All-Star Slugger is off the market.

In an interview with NBC Sports Chicago’s Chuck Garfien, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi said he would not be surprised to see the White Sox move Robert Jr. this offseason.

“I could see anybody [on the White Sox] getting traded,” Morosi said. “When you underachieve by the magnitude that they did, I have a hard time saying these players are untouchable.

“They’re all obviously good major league players, but the composition of them did not work. The whole was much lesser than the sum of the parts for the White Sox in 2023. And when you have that kind of a team, you should have nothing that says these players are off limits.

He also suggested that trading Robert Jr. would allow the White Sox to build their team up more quickly.

“Look at the Twins three or four years ago,” he said. “There was very little indication that they were going to be as good as they are right now, and I think it’s important to keep an eye on those types of clubs and how quickly you can get better.”

Luis Robert Jr. is under team control until 2027, so any package the White Sox would get in return would be monstrous.

With Dylan Cease presumably gone, a deal for Robert Jr. would likely require a parcel of young studs on the mound. Morosi pointed to the Mariners as a logical trade partner.

“The Mariners have the kind of pitching that the White Sox want,” he said. “Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo — if it’s Robert, you would even have to think about Logan Gilbert. That’s the place to go for pitching.”

Listen to the full interview with Morosi on the “White Sox Talk Podcast” here.

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In an interview with NBC Sports Chicago’s Chuck Garfien, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi said that the odds are “heavily in favor” of Cease being dealt by the White Sox as they look to rebuild their roster.

“There’s a very strong chance Dylan Cease does get traded, whether it happens this week or next week or the following week. I would say that the odds are heavily in favor of Cease being moved,” he said. “One of the quickest ways you can (reshape the roster) is by trading a controllable starting pitcher.”

Along with the Atlanta Braves, who are looking to bring the hometown Cease back to the south, Morosi also mentioned the Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers as possible landing spots for Cease, and said that the San Francisco Giants could get involved if they fail to land Shohei Ohtani or Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The favorite, in Morosi’s eyes? The Orioles.

“Their farm system is so good, and their need for pitching is so clear that I think that Dylan Cease to Baltimore is where I’m going to predict that winds up. It makes sense on paper for a number of reason,” he said.

As for what the return could be for Cease, Morosi says that the expectation is that the team can get two top-100 prospects for the pitcher, given that he has multiple years of team control left and has a reputation for being able to make regular lengthy starts.

After finishing as the Cy Young runner-up in 2022, Cease struggled at times in the 2023 season, with a 7-9 record and a 4.58 ERA in 33 starts for the South Siders.

Cease is arbitration-eligible this offseason, and won’t be a free agent until the conclusion of the 2025 season. He is expected to make around $8.3 million, according to projections from Spotrac.

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With several teams looking to bolster their pitching staff, inside sources have told MLB Network’s Jon Morosi the White Sox’ righty could be dealt by next week.

It’s previously been reported that both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves have been engaged in trade talks for the starting pitcher.

After finishing as the American League Cy Young Award runner-up in the 2022 season, Cease took a bit of a step back in 2023, posting a 7-9 record and a 4.58 ERA in a career-high 33 starts for the White Sox. His Strikeouts-per-nine-innings decreased slightly, but his WHIP increased from 1.11 to 1.42 as he gave up 46 more hits in seven fewer innings of work for the Sox.

Still, at 27 years old and with several years of team control remaining, Cease is an attractive commodity on the market, and teams will likely be willing to part with serious prospect capital to acquire his services.

In a recent episode of the White Sox Talk podcast, Nightengale said that industry sources have told him there is a “90% chance” that Cease is traded this offseason as the Sox look to restock their farm system.

Earlier reports had indicated that Cease was available for trade offers, and that the only player the White Sox weren’t listening on was outfielder Luis Robert Jr.

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According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Atlanta Braves are now looking to bolster their pitching staff by adding Cease to their rotation.

It had previously been reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers were interested in Cease as well, as were several other teams, according to reports.

After finishing as the American League Cy Young Award runner-up in the 2022 season, Cease took a bit of a step back in 2023, posting a 7-9 record and a 4.58 ERA in a career-high 33 starts for the White Sox. His Strikeouts-per-nine-innings decreased slightly, but his WHIP increased from 1.11 to 1.42 as he gave up 46 more hits in seven fewer innings of work for the Sox.

Still, at 27 years old and with several years of team control remaining, Cease is an attractive commodity on the market, and teams will likely be willing to part with serious prospect capital to acquire his services.

In a recent episode of the White Sox Talk podcast, Nightengale said that industry sources have told him there is a “90% chance” that Cease is traded this offseason as the Sox look to restock their farm system.

Earlier reports had indicated that Cease was available for trade offers, and that the only player the White Sox weren’t listening on was outfielder Luis Robert Jr.

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Chicago’s ace is reportedly on the trading block, and it’s very likely a deal goes through sooner rather than later.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale joined the “White Sox Talk Podcast” to delve into his report from earlier this week that the White Sox have been in negotiations with the Dodgers on a deal involving Dylan Cease.

“They’ve been talking for a while,” Nightengale told NBC Sports Chicago’s Chuck Garfien. “But obviously they’re not agreeing because he hasn’t been traded. I think, though, Cease will be traded. Too many teams want him. Nobody has any starting pitching. Atlanta—they need a starting pitcher bad. Obviously the Dodgers. I can see the Baltimore Orioles swooping in, too.

“He’s just too valuable valuable of a pitcher, and everybody knows that he’ll bounce back to 2022 form.”

Cease had a down year in 2023, with a 7-9 record and a 4.58 ERA in 33 starts for Chicago. It was a rough follow-up to his 2022 season, where he was the Cy Young runner up and posted a 14-8 record with a 2.20 ERA for the South Siders.

Cease still has two years of team control remaining, with free agency looming following the conclusion of the 2025 season, according to Spotrac.

Nightengale estimated there’s a “90-percent chance” Cease is dealt before Opening Day.

“[The White Sox] could hold onto Cease until the All-Star Break. Realistically, they’re not going to contend this year. But you’ll certainly get more for your money right now.”

While the Dodgers haven’t met the White Sox’ high price tag for the ace, losing out on Aaron Nola, who re-signed with the Phillies, may increase their urgency to acquire Cease, according to Nightengale.

“They got a ton of prospects, a lot of great prospects,” he said of the Dodgers. “A ton of great catching. You know, White Sox could use one of their frontline guys, and they’ve got two or three top minor league catchers.”

White Sox GM Chris Getz has been adamant that the team is willing to listen to offers on any player except for Luis Robert Jr., and it appears that they’re serious about that approach.

Rumors could heat up in the first week of December when baseball executives gather for the winter meetings in Nashville.

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According to the latest updates from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the White Sox have apparently been in negotiations with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a trade involving Cease.

“The Dodgers badly need pitching help, and the White Sox badly need to rebuild their roster,” Nightengale said.

Cease had a down year in 2023, with a 7-9 record and a 4.58 ERA in 33 starts for Chicago. It was a rough follow-up to his 2022 season, where he was the Cy Young runner up and posted a 14-8 record with a 2.20 ERA for the South Siders.

Cease still has two years of team control remaining, with free agency looming following the conclusion of the 2025 season, according to Spotrac.

The White Sox and Dodgers have been frequent trade partners of late, with pitchers Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly being dealt to the West Coast in late July. The Sox also acquired pitchers Aldrin Batista and Maximo Martinez from the Dodgers in early August.

It isn’t clear what kind of return the White Sox would get for Cease, but with two years of control and a young arm involved, it certainly could be a big one for a team in need of a jump start.

White Sox GM Chris Getz has been adamant that the team is willing to listen to offers on any player except for Luis Robert Jr., and it appears that they’re serious about that approach.

Rumors could heat up in the first week of December when baseball executives gather for the winter meetings in Nashville.

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According to a new report, ace pitcher Dylan Cease isn’t being put on the trading block, but the White Sox aren’t closing the doors on dealing the 27-year-old.

“The Chicago White Sox aren’t shopping Dylan Cease, but are telling teams they will listen to offers,” USA Today insider Bob Nightengale reported. “He could be the best pitcher available on the trade market.”

Cease had some struggles after finishing as runner-up in Cy Young voting in 2022, posting a 7-9 record and a 4.58 ERA in 33 starts with the White Sox during the 2023 season.

He struck out 214 batters in 177 innings of work, with his WHIP skyrocketing to 1.42 and his strikeout-to-walk ratio dipping to 2.71, according to Baseball Reference.

Even still, Cease would be an attractive option for teams looking to upgrade their pitching staffs. He will be eligible for arbitration each of the next two seasons before hitting free agency in the winter of 2025.

According to Spotrac estimates, Cease could be in line for a salary of $8.3 million, far below what many pitchers will command on the open market this winter. That list could include Tampa Bay Rays starter Tyler Glasnow, who could be on the trade block ahead of a season where he will make $25 million in base salary.

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In White Sox history, only three pitchers have ever recorded three or more 200-strikeout seasons. Chris Sale (four seasons) and Ed Walsh (five seasons) are the only other two South Side pitchers to do it.

The three are also the only three to post three 200-strikeout seasons consecutively. This season marks Cease’s third straight season posting the impressive mark. Sale posted three straight seasons between 2013-15 (and 2016) and Walsh from 1910-12.

This season, Cease holds a 4.85 ERA from 32 starts and 165 innings. With his 200 strikeouts, he has 77 walks along with it. He holds a 7-8 pitching record.

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The White Sox used a 14-hit attack to improve to 6-11 in August. Andrew Vaughn had three hits, including his 16th homer. Andrew Benintendi also finished with three hits and scored two runs.

After Dylan Cease struggled, Bryan Shaw, Aaron Bummer (4-2) and Gregory Santos combined for 4 1/3 innings of one-hit relief.

Charlie Blackmon homered and tripled for Colorado, which outscored Chicago 25-6 in winning the first two games of the weekend set.

Trailing 5-3 after seven, Chicago loaded the bases with no outs on singles by Benintendi and Vaughn and a walk to Luis Robert Jr. Yoán Moncada then hit a tying two-run double.

After pinch-hitter Carlos Pérez popped out and Yasmani Grandal was walked intentionally, Oscar Colás made it 7-5 with a two-run double against Justin Bruihl. Sosa connected for his second homer against Justin Lawrence.

Colorado wasted a solid performance by Chris Flexen, who pitched six effective innings in his best performance since he was claimed off waivers last month. He permitted two runs, one earned, and seven hits.

Flexen was in position to get the win before Chicago rallied in the eighth against Matt Koch (2-1).

Blackmon, who missed 53 games after breaking his right hand June 10 in Kansas City, came off the injured list Monday. He went deep in the third for Colorado’s first hit against Cease. He also hit a leadoff triple in the fifth, sparking a three-run inning.

WORTH NOTING

Plate umpire Clint Vondrak ejected White Sox shortstop Elvis Andrus in the top of the sixth inning with Robert leading off.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: RHP Tyler Kinley was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Thursday, with right elbow inflammation. RHP Tommy Doyle was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque.

White Sox: OF Eloy Jiménez is possible to return when Chicago opens a seven-game homestand on Monday night. Jiménez left Wednesday’s game at the Cubs with groin tightness and was placed on the paternity list prior to the series in Colorado.

UP NEXT

White Sox: RHP Touki Toussaint (1-4, 4.44 ERA) will open a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.

Rockies: LHP Ty Blach (1-1, 4.14 ERA) will start in the first of three games at Tampa Bay on Tuesday night.

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Christian Yelich added a two-run single for Milwaukee, which pushed its NL Central lead to 3 1/2 games after the Chicago Cubs fell at Toronto.

“Knowing we have the Cubs behind us playing pretty good and the Reds are close, too,” Peralta said after his fourth straight quality start. “I knew it was going to be an important day for us, and I was able to do the job.”

White Sox starter Dylan Cease (5-6) gave up two runs on five hits in seven innings. The 2022 AL Cy Young runner-up missed a shot at a second straight win after striking out seven and walking two.

Peralta (9-8) scattered four hits and struck out six while walking three for his third straight victory.

“Great start. Kinda got better as the game went on,” manager Craig Counsell said of the right-hander. “He pitched a nice game. Put zeroes up and we got him a lead and, fortunately, expanded it late.”

Chicago’s Carlos Pérez prevented a shutout with a two-out RBI double in the ninth off reliever J.C. Mejía. Elvis Andrus later added a two-run single.

“On the offensive side, we didn’t get anything done until that last inning,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “Peralta kept us in check all game long.”

Mark Canha’s second-inning sacrifice fly gave the Brewers the lead for good and Andruw Monasterio doubled in another run in the fifth. Reliever Aaron Bummer issued a pair of walks in the eighth before Santana drove his 15th homer of the season into right center field.

Yelich added to the lead in the ninth off Declan Cronin.

WINDY CITY

Santana’s fourth-inning at-bat ended with a deep fly to center that the batter thought was headed out of the park. The homer in the eighth? Santana assumed it wasn’t going to carry. A change in the wind pattern seemed to help.

“Early in the game, the wind was blowing in,” he said. “The second (at-bat) I thought it was in, but it was out. I was happy.”

IT’S BEEN A WHILE

The series sweep was Milwaukee’s first against the White Sox since the 1986 season, when both teams played in the American League.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: OF Luis Robert Jr. (sprained right pinky finger) missed a third straight start. Grifol said he hopes to have the All-Star back in the lineup for the start of Tuesday’s crosstown game at Wrigley Field. … INF Tim Anderson got a day off. He’s still waiting to learn the outcome of his appeal of a six-game suspension stemming from an Aug. 5 fight with Cleveland’s José Ramírez.

UP NEXT

Milwaukee: The club has not named a starter for Tuesday night’s series opener at the Los Angeles Angels.

Chicago: Touki Toussaint (1-4, 4.22) faces fellow right-hander Kyle Hendricks (4-6, 3.96) on Tuesday to start a two-game series at the Cubs.

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They’ll try on Sunday afternoon against the host Chicago White Sox after claiming the first two games of the weekend interleague series in comeback fashion.

Milwaukee used a three-run seventh inning on Saturday to prevail 3-2. One night earlier, the Brewers overcame a 5-2 deficit to win 7-6 in 10 innings.

With the win Saturday, Milwaukee maintained a 2 1/2-game lead over the second-place Chicago Cubs in the National League Central while moving three games ahead of the Reds, whose game at Pittsburgh was postponed due to inclement weather.

Snug stretch runs are nothing new for the Brewers, who have notched one-run victories in each game of their current three-game winning streak.

“Frankly, I think it helps us now, when we’ve been given the feedback the last week of the season that every single game before that really mattered,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said, reflecting on past seasons. “And I think that’s where it does good for us. We’ve played the last six years of baseball down to the last two games of the year.”

Right-hander Freddy Peralta (8-8, 4.28 ERA) will try to earn his third straight victory as he gets the call for Milwaukee.

Peralta has recorded 13 strikeouts in two of his past three starts, including Monday’s home win against Colorado, when he gave up one solo home run in an otherwise sterling seven innings.

“Everyone knows that I love the strikeouts,” Peralta said.

Chicago, which had won two straight series for the first time in two months before the Brewers arrived at Guaranteed Rate Field, will try to salvage the finale of a six-game homestand.

Yoan Moncada and Gavin Sheets both had two hits for the White Sox on Saturday night, but the rest of the club combined for just one. Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff held Chicago in check before three relievers combined to give up only one hit.

All-Star center fielder Luis Robert Jr. has made one pinch-running appearance in the series. He sprained the pinky finger in his right hand during Wednesday’s win against the New York Yankees.

Right-hander Dylan Cease will try to bookend Chicago’s homestand with victories. He defeated the Yankees on Monday with 5 1/3 effectively wild shutout innings. Cease (5-5, 4.42 ERA) scattered one hit, seven walks and six strikeouts to win for the first time since July 16.

“Every once in a while, games like that happen,” Cease said. “But I feel, especially after the third [inning], I feel like I kind of got locked in. I feel good going forward. It wasn’t very pretty, but it got the job done.”

Peralta has pitched seven scoreless innings against the White Sox over two career appearances, including one start, with 11 strikeouts over that span.

Cease hasn’t faced the Brewers in his career. In 20 interleague starts, he is 7-7 with a 3.34 ERA.

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Adding detail to the report, Jon Heyman, and Levine, reported the asking price for Dylan Cease, who’s the most notable player not named Luis Robert Jr. without protection, would be rightfully “enormous.”

The White Sox are in the midst of a sale. They’ve already traded Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Reynaldo Lopez, Joe Kelly, and Kendall Graveman, receiving a flurry of prospects in return.

Cease, outside of Robert Jr., represents the team’s most valuable player. One season ago, Cease finished runner-up in the AL Cy Young voting solely behind Justin Verlander. He held a blistering 2.20 ERA and struck out an unthinkable 227 batters.

Teams understand the value Cease holds, too. Cease, 27, still has two more seasons of arbitration before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2026. He’s earning $5.7 million this season with the White Sox.

He’s not performing his best this season, however. Through 22 starts and 119.1 innings, he’s holding onto a 4.15 ERA and 1.341 WHIP. He’s struck out 143 batters, yet walked 49 batters. His command has been an issue and a pitfall to last and this year’s respective outings.

Though, Cease’s underwhelming season has not deterred teams from showing insurmountable interest in him.

But the White Sox have shut the door on any and all offers for Cease, up until this point.

Bob Nightengale reported a week ago all interested suitors have been similarly declined. Jeff Passan wrote the White Sox “could” trade Cease, but it would be more likely if the White Sox went “full punt” mode.

Despite opposing interests, it doesn’t seem likely the White Sox would be willing to sell Cease. Unless the front office receives an offer written in gold, he’ll likely remain on the South Side.

That doesn’t mean the White Sox will pack it up and call it a day. There’s work left to be done.

For starters, if they’re looking to trade expiring contracts — something general manager Rick Hahn mentioned worth doing — they have a few left on the docket.

“Unfortunately the ’23 season isn’t working out the way we wanted,” Hahn said Wednesday after trading Giolito. “So I think it makes prudent business and strategic sense to add future assets for those becoming free agents.”

Yasmani Grandal, Keynan Middleton, Mike Clevinger and Elvis Andrus will be free agents after this season. Be on the lookout for any of these names to be moved before the clock strikes.

The MLB trade deadline ends at 5 p.m. CT on Tuesday.

Stay tuned.

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Manager Terry Francona tied Casey Stengel for 13th place on baseball’s career wins list with his 1,926th victory. And the Guardians handed the White Sox their sixth straight loss even though Jake Burger hit two homers.

Naylor drove in two with a double and scored in a three-run third against Dylan Cease (4-4) that gave the Guardians a 4-0 lead. He also had a strange RBI double in the seventh when reliever Aaron Bummer deflected his soft comebacker. The ball trickled into center field, and Andrés Giménez scored on the play to make it 5-3.

Steven Kwan and Giménez each scored two runs, and the Guardians came away with the win even though they were 5 for 19 with runners in scoring position.

Bibee (7-2) gave up three runs and six hits over 6 2/3 innings. Emmanuel Clase pitched around two singles in the ninth, striking out Andrew Benintendi to end the game, for his 28th save in 35 chances.

Burger connected leading off the third and cut it to 4-3 with a two-run drive in the fifth — his 24th home run. It was the second career multi-homer game for Burger, who hit two in a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 14.

Cease lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs and nine hits.

PLAYOFF CHASE

Lucas Giolito looks forward to chasing a playoff spot with Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout after the White Sox traded the right-hander to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.

“Being able to be his teammate, between him and Mike Trout, two of the best guys in the league, is very exciting,” Giolito said Thursday. “It’s going to be a very, very fun journey the next few months here.”

Fellow starter Lance Lynn, the subject of trade rumors, said there’s been “no communication” from the front office about potential deals.

The White Sox recalled left-hander Sammy Peralta from Triple-A Charlotte.

FRESH START

The Guardians were looking to give young infielders Tyler Freeman and Gabriel Arias more time, so they traded shortstop Amed Rosario to the Los Angeles Dodgers for one-time All-Star pitcher Noah Syndergaard on Wednesday.

“We’re trying to balance winning certainly and figuring out who’s going to be our shortstop and not answering that would wouldn’t help us,” manager Terry Francona said.

The 30-year-old Syndergaard has a 7.16 ERA in 12 starts. He’s been on the injured list with a blister on his right index finger since early June and is expected to pitch against Houston on Monday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Guardians: INF Tyler Freeman (shoulder) was held out of the lineup.

White Sox: Closer Liam Hendriks (elbow inflammation) hasn’t thrown in recent days, though manager Pedro Grifol said he hasn’t necessarily experienced a setback. “But the progression hasn’t been great, either,” he said.

UP NEXT

The four-game series continues, with Cleveland going with RHP Xzavion Curry (3-0, 2.98 ERA) as the opener and RHP Touki Toussaint (0-3, 4.06) pitching for Chicago.

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“No.”

It’s clear, now knowing they’ve put protections on Cease, and likely others on the team, that the White Sox front office is more interested in a reload versus a rebuild.

Still, logic dictates they’ll act as sellers as the MLB trade deadline approaches. Earlier Wednesday, the White Sox reportedly engaged in “serious talks” with the Tampa Bay Rays regarding a trade for veteran starter Lance Lynn.

The Los Angeles Dodgers also presented themselves as interested suitors. According to Nightengale on Wednesday, the west coast team is interested in both Lynn and Lucas Giolito.

Seeing as the White Sox are reluctant to listen to offers on Cease, they likely have similar feelings about other members of the club. Weeks ago, the NY Post’s Jon Heyman offered a list of four he reported would be, in essence, untouchable from the team.

Heyman listed the aforementioned Cease, Luis Robert Jr. — who earned his first All-Star appearance this season –, Andrew Vaughn and Eloy Jiménez as players the White Sox would prefer to retain. He mentioned Michael Kopech and Yoán Moncada were close to the list but in a separate, less protective tier of their own.

A little over a week ago, Heyman called Cease a “dream acquisition” for the Houston Astros, who are down three key starters to injury. But alas, Cease is off the table. Could they become an interested suitor for Lynn or Giolito?

Time will tell, as the Aug. 1 trade deadline is less than a week away.

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Since 2016, the front office has been building the White Sox roster as we know it today. They made pivotal trades along the way, flipping invaluable veteran players for emerging, promising prospects.

Who won those trades?

Let’s break down three of the most significant trades the White Sox made and see where the jury stands on all of them.

The Adam Eaton trade

White Sox trade: Adam Eaton to the Washington Nationals

White Sox receive: Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Dane Dunning

At this time, in 2016, Eaton was a valuable two-way player. He hit .284 with an OPS just under .800. He led the league in triples and knocked 14 balls out of the park with 59 RBIs. His defensive services in the outfield were helpful, too.

Eaton helped the Nationals to a World Series in 2019. He hit two home runs and knocked in six batters in that series, hitting .320 with an OPS of just under 1.000 points. Though, he struggled to stay on the field for most of his four-year tenure, playing over 100 games in just one season.

The White Sox got an ace and a reliable bullpen arm in return for Eaton. They also flipped Dunning into Lance Lynn years later, adding an All-Star starter to their rotation in 2021.

For what it’s worth, they signed Eaton back to the team in 2021. He wasn’t all that great, hitting .201 in 58 games. But it came full circle for the Sox in the end.

Verdict? Sox win.

Eaton played a role with the Nationals and helped them to a championship, but the Sox got multiple key pieces to their roster. Did it help them ultimately in the long run? Maybe not, considering all the names in that trade are rumored on the trade block, as of this writing. But I’ll take the White Sox in this one, considering the haul they got back.

“Huge win,” Frank Thomas said of the Eaton trade on the White Sox Pregame Live show. “White Sox definitely won that trade.”

Trading their Ace

White Sox trade: Chris Sale

White Sox receive: Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe, Victor Diaz

The White Sox drafted one of the game’s best in 2010 when they selected Sale with the No. 13 pick in the draft. He jumped up to the majors immediately, debuting that same season at 21 years old.

By 2012, he was a full-time starter with the Sox, quickly racking up accolades. He earned five straight All-Star nods with the Sox and finished top-5 in AL Cy Young voting four times.

To give them that extra boost in the farm, the Sox traded for Moncada — MLB.com’s second-best prospect at the time — and Kopech, the No. 16 ranked prospect. Moncada strung together an electric 2019 season, but he hasn’t been the same from the plate since. Kopech has endured growing pains ever since leaving the bullpen in 2022.

Verdict? Red Sox win.

The trade made a lot of sense for the White Sox at the time. And while Sale only played 11 games between 2021 and 2022, he helped them win a World Series in 2018. Both Kopech and Moncada earned pivotal roles with the South Side, but haven’t lived up to them at this point.

Crosstown trade

White Sox trade: Jose Quintana

White Sox receive: Dylan Cease, Eloy Jimenez, Matt Rose, Bryant Flete

After winning the World Series in 2016, Theo Epstein and the Cubs hoped to add a valuable arm to their rotation to make another push post-2016. In 2017, they handed the White Sox some of their best prospects for the lefty starter, Quintana.

Jimenez — the No. 14 prospect in 2017 — and Cease, No. 77, were sent to the South Side before seeing the majors. Both quickly propelled through the minor leagues and made their respective debuts in 2019.

Jimenez’s rookie season was astounding. He played 122 games and hit 31 home runs with 79 RBIs. Cease quickly became a backend starter and made an indelible mark last season, holding a 2.20 ERA and earning runner-up honors for the AL Cy Young Award.

Quintana was never quite the same pitcher with the Cubs. He couldn’t get his ERA under 4.00 and missed virtually the entire shortened 2020 season due to injuries. The Cubs lost the NLCS and the NL Wild Card in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Verdict? South Side wins.

The White Sox sold on Quintana at the right time, earning two key roster pieces in return. Cease is entering the prime of his career and one could make the argument Jimenez hasn’t yet reached his ceiling.

Assuming Cease and Jimenez are part of the few who are protected from trade over the next two weeks, I would mark this as a win for the White Sox.

“If the Cubs, today, have a Cease and a Jimenez on the field, they would be a different ball club right now,” Ozzie Guillen said on the White Sox Pregame Live show. “They might be in the pennant race.”

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It’s likely that if they choose to sell, it won’t be a full-blown yard sale. The front office would likely hang on to young stars like Luis Robert Jr. and Dylan Cease.

But teams won’t go down without a fight, according to the NY Post’s Jon Heyman. He reports the 26-year-old Cease has a very interested suitor at the deadline.

“They (Houston Astros) would love to get Dylan Cease from the White Sox.,” Heyman said on MLB Network. “Now, a lot of teams would love to get Dylan Cease. He’s one of the four guys — I wouldn’t say untouchable — but close to untouchable. So they’d have to pay a big price to add Dylan Cease.”

Previously, Heyman reported the Sox are “open for business” as the trade deadline nears. He also named Cease, Robert Jr., Andrew Vaughn and Eloy Jiménez “untouchables,” or “close to untouchable,” as he mentioned on the broadcast.

MORE: MLB insider says White Sox are ‘open for business’ at trade deadline

Obviously, trading Cease would require a major haul in return for the White Sox to shake hands on dishing away one of their young stars. Cease has been with the White Sox since they traded José Quintana to the Cubs in exchange for the young pitching prospect in 2017.

Last season, Cease earned the second-most votes for the AL Cy Young award behind Justin Verlander. He held a 2.20 ERA and recorded a whopping 227 strikeouts last year. His slider finished as the most damaging pitch in MLB, recording a -36 run value.

This season, Cease has struggled on the mound, but it’s not deterring teams from wanting him on their team. He holds a 4.18 ERA through 20 starts and he has yet to fix his command issues, walking 45 batters on the season. Last year, he led the league in walks, sending 78 batters to first base.

But the Astros desperately need starting pitchers. With Luis Garcia, Lance McCullers Jr. and Jose Urquidy out long-term, the Astros need rentals to help push for a playoff run. Cease is a great candidate, but it would take a hefty package from the Astros to make that deal happen.

In a scenario where the Astros – or any team – don’t produce an intriguing enough offer to capture Cease, this season’s trade deadline market is expected to be fruitful with starting pitchers. Heyman mentioned one of Cease’s teammates and another big-time Chicago name as candidates for the Astros.

But they’re gunning for Cease.

“I do think (Marcus) Stroman is a possibility for the Astros,” Heyman said. “They’re definitely looking at him. Also, the other names that we hear all the time: (Jordan) Montgomery, (Lucas) Giolito and Eduardo Rodriguez of interest, too.

“Cease is their dream acquisition if they can do it.”

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Heyman reports the White Sox are protecting four players from trade: Dylan Cease, Luis Robert Jr. — who’s a first-time All-Star this season –, Andrew Vaughn and Eloy Jiménez. Unless a team offers an irrefutable package for any of these players, it’s unlikely they will be traded at the deadline.

As for the rest of the bunch, it’s open season. Lucas Giolito, Keynan Middleton and Reynaldo Lopez figure to be the first names on the block, according to Heyman’s report. Heyman listed the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers as potential suitors, mentioning Giolito could land in his hometown Los Angeles with the Dodgers, too.

Yoán Moncada and Michael Kopech, two higher-caliber players on the White Sox, are not in “that same close-to-untouchable category,” says Heyman. Though, the right offer would likely need to come for the Sox to pull the trigger on sending their starting third baseman and one of their more valuable starters, elsewhere.

Heyman’s report coincides closely with that of The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, who usually — like Heyman — doesn’t miss far from the mark on these kinds of reports.

Rosenthal reported the Sox are near the conclusion of becoming sellers at the deadline. The mere caveat of his report was designating which players the White Sox could deem off-limits. He wrote Kopech and Kendall Graveman could be on the short list of untouchables, but it’s never entirely certain.

If a team truly desires a certain player, and sends an overwhelming offer, it’d be difficult to say no.

Two players to keep tabs on are Tim Anderson and Andrew Benintendi. The latter hasn’t been included in trade rumors, likely because the White Sox inked him to the franchise’s most lucrative deal last winter. Anderson may have trouble garnering trade interest, considering he hit .152 in June and is currently slashing .223/.259/.263 this season.

The name of the game here is value. The White Sox aren’t entering a total selloff. If they become sellers, they will likely be looking for the right price on their players to help bolster their assets and farm system.

As for the players on expiring contracts, however, such as Giolito, Middleton, Lopez and Joe Kelly, the front office will probably be more lenient with their respective valuations.

The White Sox are 16 games under .500, holding the fourth spot in the AL Central and standing eight games back on the division-leading Cleveland Guardians. At this point, a roster shakeup is inevitable for the Sox, who have struggled to regain traction in the division after starting the season 7-21.

Pay close attention to the White Sox, as the Aug. 1 trade deadline could mark a new leaf for the South Side.

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Trout slid home head-first on the bad throw by Aaron Bummer, helping the Angels get a critical seven-game homestand off to a successful start.

Carlos Estéves (2-1) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to get the win.

Luis Robert Jr. homered for the third straight game for the White Sox. Reynaldo López (2-5) took the loss after walking Trout to start the ninth.

Bummer then came in to face Ohtani, who drew his own walk. The two Angels superstars successfully executed a double steal, leading to Trout’s heroics.

Ohtani bolstered his push for American League Player of the Month by tying it up at 1 with a massive 446-foot blast into right field, his 11th homer in the past 19 games. He has 21 RBIs in that stretch, including four straight games driving in a run.

Robert’s solo shot to left field in the first inning was his 22nd of the season, continuing a hot streak for the 25-year-old that included being named AL Player of the Week on Monday after hitting .400 (6 for 15) with three homers and four RBIs in four games against Texas and Boston. He went deep twice in a 4-1 win on Sunday to put an exclamation point on the series.

Robert and Ohtani were the only batters to break through on a night of outstanding starting pitching from the Angels’ Reid Detmers and Dylan Cease for the White Sox.

Detmers had eight strikeouts while allowing one run, two hits and one walk in six innings.

Cease struck out 10 in six-plus innings, giving up one run, five hits and one walk. He left after allowing singles to Brandon Drury and Mike Moustakas, but Joe Kelly came in to strike out Taylor Ward and get Matt Thaiss to hit into a double play.

Moustakas made his Angels debut after being acquired in a trade from Colorado on Saturday, going 1 for 3 and playing first base.

EXCUSED ABSENCE

The Angels put newly acquired IF Eduardo Escobar on the restricted list Monday so he can take a test to become an American citizen on Tuesday. General manager Perry Minasian said Escobar will be back in the lineup by Wednesday, with a chance of playing Tuesday night.

“It was really, really important to him, and I don’t blame him,” Minasian said.

The Venezuelan-born Escobar was added in a trade from the Mets on Friday to help bolster an injury-depleted infield for the Angels, who recently lost Gio Urshela to a likely season-ending broken pelvis and have 3B Anthony Rendon and rookie SS Zach Neto on the injured list.

UP NEXT

White Sox: RHP Michael Kopech (3-6) hasn’t gone past the fifth inning in any of his past three starts. He took the loss against Texas on Wednesday after giving up three runs in four innings.

Angels: Ohtani (6-3) had one of his better outings of the season despite taking the loss in 2 -0 defeat against the Dodgers on Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits in seven innings while striking out 12.

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For a second straight season, the White Sox are underperforming. In a historically bad division through nearly 70 games, the White Sox are gripping onto the third place spot. Though, they’re shockingly, somewhat undeservingly 4.5 games back on the division lead and 2.5 back on second.

For that, ESPN says the White Sox should head in a different direction come the Aug. 1 trade deadline.

“For Chicago, the time is now to change its deadline destiny,” Brad Doolittle wrote. “Its roster is as healthy as it’s been all season. Either the White Sox go on a sustained run now, or the deadline could and probably should result in a significant retooling. If that were to happen, Chicago would have some of the more alluring trade candidates around.”

The White Sox are still attempting to dig themselves out of the hole they dug in April.

During the premiere month of the season, the Sox owned the ninth-worst offense in the majors, the eighth-worst pitching staff, and arguably one of the worst defenses. In May, however, they turned things around with some incredible starting pitching and potent offense from unlikely characters, such as Jake Burger, Romy Gonzalez and Gavin Sheets.

Still, however, the White Sox are not predestined to win the AL Central, one of MLB’s worst divisions.

They have a roster ready to win now. And now, they’re finally healthy enough to get a solid glimpse at how they operate as a cohort. But not much has changed. Yes, recently, the Sox have won six of their last eight games. Even then so, they still have the seventh-worst offense during that same time frame.

What will change before the season’s end?

As Doolittle wrote, if the White Sox decide to be sellers at the trade deadline, they will have some of the more intriguing trade candidates. On that list, likely, would include Lucas Giolito, Mike Clevinger and maybe Dylan Cease. Giolito and Clevinger are on expiring contracts this season and Cease is arguably one of the Sox’ best assets, who could return a “haul,” according to Jon Heyman.

“I don’t think it’s that likely he’ll (Dylan Cease) be traded because he has two years after this year where he avoids free agency,” Heyman recently said on MLB Network. “They have some other trade candidates I think are more likely. (Lucas) Giolito I think. (Mike) Clevinger, if healthy, is more likely to get dealt than Cease. But I think teams will be asking about him if they’re not in the race. And it’s gonna take a haul.”

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Could the White Sox entertain trade packages for Dylan Cease, Lucas Giolito and Mike Clevinger near MLB’s trade deadline? The NY Post’s Jon Heyman believes there’s a possibility, with multiple hoops to jump for Cease. 

“I don’t think it’s that likely he’ll (Dylan Cease) be traded because he has two years after this year where he avoids free agency,” Heyman said on MLB Network. “They have some other trade candidates I think are more likely. (Lucas) Giolito I think. (Mike) Clevinger, if healthy, is more likely to get dealt than Cease. But I think teams will be asking about him if they’re not in the race. And it’s gonna take a haul.”

The White Sox, at this point, aren’t ready to sell off and head toward a large-scale rebuild. 

“There will come a point where that becomes apparent that (a comeback to contention) is not very likely to happen,” Rick Hahn said on Monday. “At that point, we’ll have to make the final decision about direction. It’s not a decision we have to make on Memorial Day.”

MORE: Hahn: White Sox aren’t at point to sell off just yet

As expected, the White Sox aren’t ready to call it quits on their current roster. They are, however, the fourth-place team in the AL Central, which is arguably the worst division in baseball. If they started trading off players, beginning with the starting rotation could be a lucrative place to start.

As Heyman said, Clevinger and Giolito would be the most likely to be dealt to another team.

Giolito is undergoing his final season under arbitration before he enters unrestricted free agency this upcoming offseason. If the White Sox aren’t sold on keeping him in the starting rotation, it would be wise of them to trade him for assets.

Giolito, who was acquired via trade in 2016 for Adam Eaton, has improved since stumbling in 2021. He lost nearly 30 pounds he put on in preparation for last season, and in return, his ERA has dropped nearly one point from 2021. 

He has six quality starts this season, tied for 15th most of all MLB pitchers this season. Giolito also sports a 3.98 ERA with 64 strikeouts and 19 walks. 

The White Sox acquired Mike Clevinger over the winter on a one-year deal worth $12 million. Shortly after his signing, news dropped about an ongoing investigation conducted by MLB on Clevinger for domestic violence and child abuse. 

MLB found nothing from their elongated investigation. They placed no punishment on Clevinger and he joined the White Sox for spring training and now during the regular season. He’s currently on the 15-day injured list with right wrist inflammation, which Heyman alluded to. 

Clevinger could serve as a rental option for any contending team in need of a backend starter. Through nine starts, he’s recorded a 4.56 ERA with 40 strikeouts and 22 walks, along with a 1.458 WHIP. Although he’s not reflected similar numbers since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2020, he’s an effective role player for a starting rotation. 

As for Cease, he’s struggled since earning the second-most votes for the AL Cy Young award last season. He currently holds a 4.88 ERA, drastically underperforming from the scorching 2.20 ERA he held last season. 

Cease, despite recent falters, would earn the White Sox a haul of prospects if traded. Again, the White Sox would exceptional and drastic conditions to align for Cease to be dealt to another team. He’s arguably the team’s ace when he’s on top of his stuff. And he is also under clubhouse control for the next two seasons. 

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Alex Lange (3-0) pitched a scoreless top of the 10th, and Jonathan Schoop’s long fly ball off Reynaldo Lopez (4-4) moved Spencer Torkelson to third with one out.

Akil Baddoo was intentionally walked and Haase hit a fly ball to deep center to easily score Torkelson.

“I’m just trying to get something in the air, obviously, but this all started with Lange,” Haase said. “He punches two guys out in the top of the inning to give us a great chance to win it.”

The Tigers trailed 5-4 going into the bottom of the ninth, but Riley Greene hit a one-out triple off Joe Kelly. Javier Baez followed with a grounder to short. Tim Anderson didn’t field it cleanly and had to throw to first, allowing Greene to score the tying run.

“That’s a really tough play for (Anderson),” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “I’m not sure he even had a chance. I’ll look at the tape tonight.”

Detroit led 4-1 after Baddoo’s third-inning grand slam off Dylan Cease.

“I was expecting a fastball high in the zone, and it was a pretty good pitch, but I got a great swing on it,” he said.

The Tigers bullpen couldn’t hold the lead in the seventh.

The White Sox loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, bringing Jose Cisnero in to relieve Will Vest. Eloy Jimenez blooped a double down the left-field line, pulling the White Sox within 4-3.

Luis Robert Jr. grounded to third and Anderson beat Zach McKinstry’s throw to the plate. Andrew Vaughn added a sacrifice fly to put Chicago ahead 5-4.

Jimenez went 1-3 with two walks and two runs scored in his first game since going on the injured list on May 6 with appendicitis.

“You can see how much Eloy means to our team,” Grifol said. “He took his walks, he got us a big hit and he was great on the bases. It’s huge to have him back.”

Cease avoided a rare loss to the Tigers. He came into the game with a 10-1 record with a 1.72 ERA in 13 career starts against the Tigers, including 6-0 at Comerica Park. Cease allowed four runs on four hits and four walks in four innings, striking out eight.

Tigers ace Eduardo Rodriguez gave up one run on five hits and two walks in six innings. He is 4-2 with a 1.40 ERA in his past nine starts.

The Tigers loaded the bases in the second, but Zack Short flew out to the wall in left. The White Sox took advantage in the next inning, with Romy Gonzalez lining his first homer of the year into the Tigers bullpen.

In the eighth, Burger nearly homered, but Greene reached over the centerfield fence to bring the ball back.

“I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but he’s a pretty good player,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said of his 22-year-old centerfielder. “He’s a guy who can make differences on both side of the ball.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

The White Sox activated Jiménez and optioned OF Adam Haseley to Triple-A Charlotte. Jiménez was hitting .258 with four homers in 25 games when he last played on May 5.

JUST LIKE THE DESIGN

When the Tigers moved in and lowered the centerfield fence this season, one reason cited was giving Greene more chances to steal homers, exactly as he did to Burger in the eighth.

The big park plays well with his offensive game, as well. His ninth-inning triple was his third of the season – the only three the Tigers have hit.

UP NEXT

Chicago starts a three-game home series with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday evening. Michael Kopech (3-4, 4.24) will pitch for the White Sox against Griffin Canning (3-2, 4.95).

The Tigers remain home for three games against the Texas Rangers. Matthew Boyd (3-3, 5.74) will start Monday afternoon’s opener for them against Nathan Eovaldi (6-2, 2.60).

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