This offseason, the St. Louis Cardinals’ starting rotation might improve significantly.
The 2023 season was a challenge for St. Louis from the start. St. Louis opened the 2023 season with questions surrou
St. Louis has a lot of work to do this winter, and the team has been linked to nearly every big-name pitcher who might become available. According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease might be an intriguing trade candidate.
“That doesn’t say a whole lot for what the White Sox have to offer from their major-league roster in terms of trade options,” Goold said in an interview. “But there is an obvious fit for the Cardinals, one who piqued their interest prior to Dylan Cease.” In 2022, the right-
handed starter finished second to winner Justin Verlander and ahead of the aforementioned (Alek Manoah) for the (American League) Cy Young Award. Cease led the group of Cy Young vote-getters with 6.4 WAR and a 2.20 ERA in 184 innings pitched. He struck out 180 times. He was 7-9 in 33 starts last season with a 4.58 ERA and a 10.9 K/9 rate.”
Cease has already been discussed as a possible match for the Cardinals, and a transfer would make sense. He struggled in 2023, but he’s only 27 years old and has a career 3.83 ERA in five seasons. Furthermore, he will not be a free agent until the 2026 season. He had a 2.20 ERA in 32 starts in 2022 and, if he can maintain that level of performance, would be an ideal addition for St. Louis.
