Dylan Cease's first start post trade deadline has A.J. Preller looking like a genius

Dylan Cease dazzled in his first start after the trade deadline, proving A.J. Preller made the correct decision in keeping him.

St. Louis Cardinals v San Diego Padres | Orlando Ramirez/GettyImages2025 has been a bumpy year for Dylan Cease in what is a contract year for the 29-year-old. The front office received strong interest from other teams, with phone calls coming in left and right in hopes of trading for Cease. But amid all the speculation and rumors, Cease ended up staying put at the deadline, and the decision to hold on to him might make A.J. Preller look like a genius down the road.

In his start on Sunday, Dylan Cease tossed a gem against the St. Louis Cardinals, going five innings…