The Baltimore Orioles acquired right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty from the St. Louis Cardinals, the teams announced Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know:
- In return, the Cardinals get RHP Zack Showalter and prospects César Prieto and Drew Rom.
- Flaherty is 7-6 this season, posting a 4.43 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 20 games played and started.
- The 27-year-old has spent all seven seasons of his major-league career with the Cardinals.
- The Orioles are first in the American League and AL East at 65-41. St. Louis is last in the NL Central.
We have acquired INF César Prieto, LHP Drew Rom and RHP Zack Showalter from the Orioles in exchange for RHP Jack Flaherty. #STLCards pic.twitter.com/IM7f0FbBx9
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 1, 2023
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Scouting report
The Cardinals took a gamble on Flaherty entering the 2023 season, hoping the right-hander could return to the ace-caliber form he showed in 2019 and in early 2021, before a slew of injuries sidelined him for 18 months. His first half was inconsistent and his walk rate skyrocketed, but over the last month, he has been one of the most consistent starting pitchers in the league.
Though he struggled with command throughout the first half, his fastball and slider — the bread and butter of his arsenal — have hardly looked better as of late. Flaherty has the stuff and the swagger to be an upper-rotation arm for a contending team. — Woo
Is this a surprise?
Flaherty was the lone player left on the active roster with an expiring contract, with the exception of Drew VerHagen, who wasn’t expected to be traded in the first place. With president of baseball operations John Mozeliak expressing his desire to field a competitive club in 2024, trading Flaherty was expected.
The Cardinals, who already traded soon-to-be- free agents Jordan Hicks, Jordan Montgomery, Chris Stratton and Paul DeJong, adequately addressed their lacking farm system, bolstering it with substantial pitching depth. The belief internally is the club will focus on addressing the 2024 roster over the off-season. — Woo
Required reading
(Photo: Jeff Curry / USA Today Sports)
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