Inside The Cardinals

Three Potential Suiters Linked To Cardinals Jack Flaherty As Trade Deadline Nears

St. Louis could fetch a solid return for the young righty

Scott Neville

Three Potential Suiters Linked To Cardinals Jack Flaherty As Trade Deadline Nears
Three Potential Suiters Linked To Cardinals Jack Flaherty As Trade Deadline Nears /
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The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the most reluctant teams in Major League Baseball when it comes to selling at the trade deadline, or accepting any break from contention for that matter.

In general, that tendency is a good thing for the organization and the fanbase, but it might be self-destructive this season. Barring a remarkable turnaround ahead of the Aug 1. trade deadline, this team appears destined for the bottom of the standings.

The Cardinals are not only in last place in the National League Central but have the third-worst record in the entire NL at 30-43. If the time comes to sell, they'll have some chips to unload, including starter Jack Flaherty.

"After allowing 10 earned runs in just 2 1/3 innings against the (Los Angeles) Angels on May 4, Flaherty posted a 2.06 ERA over his next six starts, helping St. Louis to victories in five of those games," MLB.com's Mark Feinsand wrote Monday. "The right-hander -- who is slated to become a free agent at the end of the season -- was roughed up by the (San Francisco) Giants (6 ER in 4 1/3 innings) on June 13 and by the (Washington) Nationals (6 ER in 6 1/3 innings), but he would be a valuable piece for most contenders seeking a rotation upgrade."

Feinsand listed the Giants, Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays as potential trade candidates. 

Flaherty has had a fair share of up and downs this season but still has stretches of brilliance. A team like the Rays would be a perfect candidate to tinker with his mechanics and pitch mix to get the most out of him. They'd likely be highly interested in his arm talent. 

His status as an impending free agent makes the developmental aspect of his game less enticing but he'd likely be affordable for all three listed suitors in free agency -- including the Rays -- after his inconsistent season and injury-plagued career. 

The 27-year-old has a 4.95 ERA with an 80-to-44 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .280 batting average against and 1.60 WHIP in 80 innings across 15 starts. He leads the league in walks and hit batsmen with eight.

Still, he has immense potential given his age and early success in the big leagues. He certainly could be moved for a solid prospect or two at the deadline.

More MLB: Cardinals Activate Lars Nootbar, Demote Promising Young Slugger

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Scott Neville
SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the St. Louis Cardinals for FanNation's "Inside The Cardinals" on Sports Illustrated. Before starting "Inside The Cardinals", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join FanNation and the Sports Illustrated Media Group as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox."  After a few months as the top Major League Baseball site in the program, Neville sought expansion and pitched "Inside The Cardinals," one of the newest additions to FanNation and the Sports Illustrated Media Group. The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Cardinals" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu