As a White Sox fan, I strongly believe this might be the best move the front office could make. With Ethan Katz returning as pitching coach, I worry that Cease's struggles from 2023 may persist-- and if they do-- now is the time to move him while he still has high value. St. Louis matches as a trade partner perfectly due to their influx of seemingly movable Major League-level talent that they could and more than likely will move out as a means of acquiring a top-level pitcher to build around for the immediate future and beyond. Cease seems like a perfect fit with the Cardinals as he's shown he's capable of Cy Young-caliber play -- if he's physically right. And unless the front office decides to tear it all down this offseason, they're going to "go for it" while players like Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Giovanny Gallegos, Tommy Edman, Tyler O'Neill, Miles Mikolas, and Ryan Helsley are healthy and still productive. Now, we know that Dylan Cease is going to command a true "haul" coming back for the White Sox and here, I've taken a quantity approach as first year general manager Chris Getz has the unenviable task of trying to fill the South Sider's numerous needs that are more like smoking craters, at this point. That's why players like Brendan Donovan, Dylan Carlson, and even a still (surprisingly) young Dakota Hudson are attractive in this scenario. Donovan would *finally* solve the Sox's need for a productive second baseman and his experience playing several positions will be greatly appreciated. Dylan Carlson would likely immediately slot in as the White Sox's starting right fielder and Dakota Hudson would be expected to serve as a #3 or 4 starter that could potentially tap into a higher level of play with a change of scenery. The prospects exchanged would more-or-less help balance the value here -- and I'll admit I don't closely follow the Cardinals prospect pipeline -- Graceffo is an appealing arm that appears to be a pretty sure bet to be able to fill out as a mid-rotation arm with upside for more that could likely contribute to the White Sox, if they need to, as early as this season. Bernal and Baez aren't highly thought of but they do present the White Sox with a different kind of player archetype than they have in their system as it currently stands. While St. Louis would also be getting back some not insignificant prospects back in their own regard in pitcher Kohl Simas and Bryce Bush who have both shown the potential to be contributors to the Major League ballclub in the past but have since seen their development stall a bit.