NL West Club Reportedly Linked To Cardinals Stud As Trade Deadline Quickly Approaches

Should the Cardinals deal one of their hurlers to an NL West club?

Could the St. Louis Cardinals actually end up being sellers ahead of the trade deadline?

If you had asked this question before the season began, the answer would've been an emphatic no. But, things certainly have changed. St. Louis currently is in last place in the National League Central at 32-45 and has never really been able to put things together this season. There's still time until the August 1 deadline, but if the Cardinals don't rack up some wins sooner rather than later, the club could deal away some of their stars and turn their focus to the 2024 campaign.

If the Cardinals were to become sellers ahead of the deadline, one player who has found his name in trade rumors recently is longtime St. Louis starting pitcher Jack Flaherty. If Flaherty does end up getting dealt, one team that reportedly could be a match is the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to The Athletic's Jim Bowden.

"The Diamondbacks have a legitimate chance to win the NL West but could really use another veteran starter in their rotation to slot after Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Zack Davies," Bowden said. "Flaherty, 27, is a tremendous competitor and the type of player you want in your clubhouse in a pennant race. I realize it's somewhat of a gamble for Arizona, but maybe less of a gamble than some of the rookie starters the Diamondbacks are sending out there now."

Flaherty is just 27 years old and already is a seven-year big league veteran. He has shown flashes with the Cardinals and at points even has seemed like a potential All-Star, but injuries have hampered his career. Flaherty is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2023 season and there's no way to know if he will re-sign after the season. St. Louis has been in the market for a new starting pitcher this season, but with the way the campaign has gone so far, maybe it does make sense to add more prospects and focus on next season. 

St. Louis still has a few weeks before the deadline to sort out its strategy and it's certainly going to be an interesting time to be a Cardinals fan. 

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