3 of the best trades the SF Giants can make to upgrade the starting rotation

3 of the best trades the SF Giants can make to upgrade the starting rotation

2. Dylan Cease

The SF Giants could also target White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease for a trade. Cease is a 28-year-old right-hander who has had some solid seasons in the South Side of Chicago.

In 2023, Cease had some struggles as he had a record of 7-9 with a 4.58 ERA in 33 games started. This was a far cry from the 14-8 record and 2.20 ERA he posted in 2022.

It’s possible that opposing hitters simply started to catch on more to Cease last season. 

Perhaps a change of scenery and a new pitching coach is what Cease needs to get back on track.

The Giants certainly have a proven track record of making some tweaks to pitchers who have had success in the past to help them rekindle their former selves. Look no further than Kevin Gausman and Anthony DeSclafani.

It is also worth noting that Cease is not set to become a free agent until after the 2025 season. That means two years of team control on a young starter with a lot of upside. Team control holds a lot of value in trade talks.

Like Burnes, it would probably take one, if not more, of the Giants' young pitching prospects to land Cease. But it may be worth it as they try to shore up their rotation.