Cardinals: 3 top-flight starters to trade for after Jack Flaherty injury news

The St. Louis Cardinals received bad news as their ace Jack Flaherty has been moved from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Here are three top-flight starters that they should trade for to replace him.

The St. Louis Cardinals have a starting rotation problem. Well, actually, they have a few problems. Steven Matz has been on the injured list (and when he was pitching, he had a 6.03 ERA). Dakota Hudson, Jordan Hicks, and Matthew Liberatore all have been below league average as well. Now their ace, Jack Flaherty, will be out for longer than expected.

On Monday, he was moved from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL with a shoulder injury. He cannot be activated until late August, as he was placed on the IL on June 27 after making just three starts.

Before the trade deadline, the St. Louis Cardinals need to address their starting rotation so here are three top flight starters to trade for before the deadline passes on August 2.

St. Louis Cardinals trade target: Frankie Montas

The Oakland A’s were one of the biggest sellers this past offseason and with their play in the first half of the year, they will continue selling what they have left. When healthy, Frankie Montas is one of the best trade chips.

Montas has gotten no run support as he leads the majors with nine losses (a 3-9 record) despite having a 3.26 ERA in 17 starts. In fact, the A’s have scored either zero or only one run in 10 of his 17 starts.

He was great last year too as he finished sixth in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

The only problem with him will be is he healthy himself? He missed his last start due to shoulder inflammation. He received a cortisone injection but the A’s haven’t placed him on the IL. If he’s healthy, the Cardinals should trade for him, especially he is still arbitration eligible for the 2023 season.