White Sox send Cease to San Diego

Chicago White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease, one of the most sought-after pitchers on the trade market, appears to be headed to the San Diego Padres for four players, including three prospects.

The two teams were finalizing a deal Wednesday night, according to multiple reports. The White Sox are expected to get right-handers Drew Thorpe and Jairo Iriarte, the Padres’ fourth- and seventhranked prospects, as part of the return.

Cease, 28, had a breakout season in 2022, going 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA and 227 strikeouts in 32 starts and finishing second to Justin Verlander in American League Cy Young Award voting. He went 7-9 with a 4.58 ERA and 214 strikeouts in 33 starts last season.

He will join a San Diego rotation that includes Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove.

Giolito likely done for season

Boston Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito is expected to miss the 2024 season after his right ulnar collateral ligament was repaired with an internal brace. Dr. Jeffrey R. Dugas operated Tuesday at the Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Ala. Giolito was able to avoid ligament replacement surgery, which he had in 2012, soon after Washington made Giolito its top pick in the amateur draft.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said before Wednesday’s game against the Yankees that he doesn’t think Giolito will take the mound this season. Recovery from the internal brace surgery, which uses an artificial material to make the repair, has allowed pitchers to return to the major leagues in as little as nine months. Tommy John surgery, which uses a tendon from elsewhere in the body to replace the torn ligament, has a usual rehab period of 12 to 18 months.

Giolito, who signed a two-year, $38.5-million (U.S.) deal with the Red Sox, will be 30 in July. He is 61-62 with a 4.43 ERA in 178 career starts and two relief appearances and was an all-star in 2019.