The New York Yankees, having missed out on Shohei Ohtani, are determined to bolster their rotation despite last season’s struggles, primarily caused by underperformance in their starting pitchers. Gerrit Cole’s exceptional performance stood out amidst a season marred by injuries and lackluster play from his counterparts. Hence, it’s unsurprising that the Yankees are eyeing Dylan Cease, one of today’s top pitching talents. However, Cease isn’t available through free agency, necessitating a trade with the Chicago White Sox. This prompts the question: why not pursue free agents like Blake Snell instead? Bob Nightengale shed light on one reason: the Yankees are hesitant due to the luxury-tax implications of Snell’s contract demands, which include a short-term deal or early opt-outs, resulting in a hefty tax surcharge and loss of draft picks.

Despite the interest in Cease, finalizing the trade isn’t straightforward. Disagreements over specifics, notably concerning Yankees prospect Spencer Jones, have stalled negotiations between the Yankees and the White Sox.

The New York Yankees are leaning towards trading for Chicago White Sox standout Dylan Cease instead of pursuing free agent Blake Snell. However, negotiations have hit a roadblock with the White Sox. The Yankees are adamant about not including their top outfield prospect, Spencer Jones, in any deal for Cease, while the White Sox are insistent on his inclusion.

The Yankees’ reluctance stems from their desire to retain their top prospects rather than deplete their resources for potentially short-term gains in pitching. However, if acquiring Cease is a priority for the Yankees, especially as they seek to upgrade their roster without dealing with the complexities of Snell’s contract, they may need to reconsider their stance and meet the White Sox’s demands.