Cardinals: 1 trade to make after Jack Flaherty injury

The St. Louis Cardinals need some rotation depth with Jack Flaherty likely out to start the regular season. Why not trade with the Oakland A’s for Sean Manaea?

Flaherty is receiving a second opinion on his injured shoulder, but it seems unlikely that he’ll be ready for Opening Day. The Cardinals two-time Opening Day starter admitted to feeling discomfort in his right shoulder all offseason. The lockout delayed seeking medical attention, unfortunately.

"“I had a little bit of discomfort since the end of last season,” Flaherty said, per MLB.com. “It’s just something we worked through and kept working at, and it was kind of up and down. They wanted to get another look at [my shoulder]. The lockout made things difficult to have any type of communication, so they just want to get another look at it. I came in and saw the doctors, and they just want to get another look at it.”"

So, what should the Cardinals do with Flaherty potentially out to start the season? A team already in need of rotation depth could be more shorthanded than expected. Something has to give.

Sean Manaea rumors: Cardinals trade on the horizon?

The Oakland Athletics are in the midst of a fire sale. Oakland, as well as the Cincinnati Reds, appear to be shedding payroll at an alarming rate. While the Reds would be an intriguing option for most teams, they sit in the Cardinals division, so any deal between the two teams would be far more complicated.

Manaea finished last season with a 3.91 ERA and 1.227 WHIP. He’s a mid-rotation starter on a contending team, and has just one year remaining on his deal. Even if Oakland’s demands are high, they’re likely willing to come down from those given Manaea’s contract.

Re-signing J.A. Happ, who remains a free agent, is another intriguing option for a St. Louis team that could probably use his services regardless of whether they trade for Manaea or not.