Cardinals Among Top Landing Spots For Rays Veteran Hurler On Trade Block

St. Louis looks like its going to be adding a starter in the near future

Jun 16, 2024; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin (24) pitches against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports / Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Who will the St. Louis Cardinals add ahead of the 2024 Major League Baseball trade deadline?

St. Louis is in a great spot with the deadline looming and now is looking like a real playoff team. The Cardinals will be in the mix for veteran starting pitchers and already have been linked to a handful of players.

There will be plenty of options available and the Cardinals were mentioned as a possible landing spot for Tampa Bay Rays veteran hurler Zach Eflin by The Athletic's Aaron Gleeman and Tim Britton.

"As usual in Tampa Bay, money could be a factor with Zach Eflin set to make $18 million in 2025," Gleeman and Britton said. "In fact, it's possible the Rays backloaded his three-year contract with the intention of shopping him before then, not unlike what they did with Tyler Glasnow. Teams with decent-sized payrolls could simply see Eflin as a solid, strike-throwing mid-rotation starter with a market-rate contract, making him enticing. Potential landing spots: Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, (and) Houston Astros."

Eflin has a 4.14 ERA in 18 games started and could bolster the back of the Cardinals' rotation. St. Louis is in a good spot and doesn't necessarily need to add another top-of-the-rotation starter, although that would be great.

The 30-year-old is a nine-year big league veteran and could be a great option at a low cost to help add more pitching help. St. Louis has been in a good spot over the last month. Could the Cardinals take another step forward over the next week?

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