Many anticipate the St. Louis Cardinals to acquire pitching this offseason, and it would be surprising if they did not sign a free agent like Aaron Nola or Blake Snell, but they need multiple starters, and Chicago White Sox lefty Dylan Cease fits the bill perfectly.
The Cardinals still have excellent players like Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt at the top of their lineup, with a promising young hitter like Jordan Walker looming in the wings. The Cardinals have enough talent on their roster to field a competitive lineup next season. Since the trade deadline last season, the front administration has made it clear that the organization will be targeting starting pitching.
As previously stated, the Cardinals will be interested in free agency pitchers such as Nola and Snell, as well as a reunion with Jordan Montgomery. The Cardinals have been believed to be open to deals, and Dylan Cease makes a lot of sense.
The White Sox are entering a time in which they are unlikely to contend, and Dylan Cease is one of the team’s most prized assets. He has two more years of arbitration left before becoming a free agent in the offseason of 2026. For two seasons, the Cardinals would receive a very solid rotation piece with ace potential.
According to Baseball Reference, Cease had a 4.58 ERA last season, which was disappointing because he had a 2.20 ERA in 2022 and finished second in the Cy Young voting to Justin Verlander. However, the White Sox were said to have some culture issues with their pitching staff. Cease is still a pitcher with a lot of potential.
With that said, let’s take a look at the ideal trade the Cardinals should make with the White Sox in exchange for Dylan Cease.
Cardinals send IF Brendan Donovan and SP Tink Hence to White Sox in exchange for SP Dylan Stops
The Cardinals will have to give up a lot to obtain Cease, and a package of Brendan Donovan makes a lot of sense in this trade. Tink Hence would provide the White Sox with a starting pitching prospect who may potentially replace Cease in the near future, while Brendan Donovan would provide them with a young, strong offensive talent who is flexible.
Donovan would be a good match at second base, but he can also play outfield. He’d be a fantastic fit for the White Sox as they strive to retool or rebuild over the next few seasons. The Cardinals also have enough position players to compensate for Donovan’s absence. Masyn Winn, in particular, a widely regarded
Last season was about as horrible as anyone could have predicted for the Cardinals, and the major reason was the starting pitching’s vulnerability. As previously stated, you do not want to waste any of the years that Arenado and Goldschmidt are on your roster.
This summer, St. Louis will surely add to its rotation, and the free agency candidates are obvious. However, there is arguably no move that presents the Cardinals with more upside than a trade for Dylan Cease. Bringing him in might make a big difference, especially if they can teach him well and help him replicate what he achieved in 2022.
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