Yankees Reportedly Linked To Cardinals In Potential Trade Deadline Blockbuster Deal

The Yankees and Cardinals may end up being perfect trade partners

The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the hottest teams in baseball but still could look extremely different after the 2023 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline.

St. Louis has won five straight games and eight of its last 10 games but still is in fourth place in the National League Central with a disappointing 43-53 record. The Cardinals currently are nine-and-a-half games back of a Wild Card spot with an important four-game series against the rival Chicago Cubs set to begin Thursday. 

At this point, the Cardinals more likely than not will be sellers ahead of the trade deadline and a blockbuster trade involving pitcher Jack Flaherty and outfielder Dylan Carlson reportedly could make sense with the New York Yankees, according to The Athletic's Jim Bowden.

"The Yankees’ goal for the trade deadline is to land a starting pitcher and a two-way left fielder, and one swoop transaction with the Cardinals could address both needs," Bowden said. "Flaherty has endured many injuries early in his career but has been able to post all season, making 18 starts and going 7-5 with a 4.29 ERA. Over his past three starts, he has allowed only three earned runs in 18 2/3 innings. Flaherty is an impending free agent and appears to have the type of makeup to handle the pressures of pitching in New York for the Yankees.

"Meanwhile, Carlson has underachieved and it appears the Cardinals are ready to give up on the athletic outfielder, who at 24 still hasn’t entered his prime years and is under team control through 2026. He has reached base at a .344 clip this season and profiles, at the very least, as an average major-league player on both sides of the ball (but also one with future upside), which would be an upgrade for the Yankees."

Both Flaherty and Carlson have found their names in trade rumors this season so it wouldn't be too surprising to see either on the move ahead of the August 1 deadline. New York likely will be looking to upgrade and have a solid enough farm system to potentially make a deal happen. The Cardinals likely will want plenty of pitching prospects as it looks to eventually improve its rotation so it likely would take at least one or two near big league-ready prospects. 

There are sure to be plenty more rumors as the trade deadline quickly approaches. 

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