AL Central Club Reportedly Pursuing Ex-Cardinals Pitcher In Free Agency

It sounds like one former member of the Cardinals could land in the AL Central next season

The St. Louis Cardinals have been one of the most active clubs in the starting pitching free-agent market this offseason.

The majority of Major League Baseball clubs are pursuing starting pitching this offseason and a handful of teams are looking for multiple hurlers. St. Louis entered the offseason as one of the most desperate teams in the league when it came to starting pitching and already has added three starters.

St. Louis was hoping to add three hurlers after trading away Jordan Montgomery, and Jack Flaherty, and losing Adam Wainwright to retirement. Montgomery and Flaherty now both are free agents and looking for new homes. One club that reportedly is pursuing Flaherty is the Kansas City Royals, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

"The Royals are indeed interested in Marcus Stroman, as Jon Heyman reported, but Kansas City is casting a wide net in its search for pitching," Feinsand said. "Per sources, the Royals have also had discussions with Lucas Giolito, Michael Wacha, and Jack Flaherty."

Flaherty spent the first six-plus seasons of his career with the Cardinals before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles ahead of the 2023 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline. The 28-year-old was heavily pursued ahead of the trade deadline but struggled after being moved to the Orioles.

The big righty logged a 6.75 ERA in nine total appearances -- including seven starts -- with the Orioles to end the 2023 season. He likely will be looking for a short-term, prove-it deal this offseason, and the Royals could make sense. 

Kansas City needs to improve its starting rotation. Plus, if the club struggles again next season it likely will look to add top prospects in trades with contenders ahead of the 2024 trade deadline. If the Royals could land Flaherty, he could help the club in the short term and then possibly be traded or stick around with the team. It sounds like a win-win possibility.

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