MLB Rumors: 4 Jack Flaherty trade destinations, 1 for Cardinals to avoid
1. Atlanta Braves are a perfect Jack Flaherty trade destination for Cardinals to work with
If there’s a starting pitcher who could be available at the MLB Trade Deadline and won’t necessarily cost a king’s ransom, then the Atlanta Braves need to be involved.
Sitting behind only the Diamondbacks in terms of record in the National League, the Braves have the look of a team that could compete for another World Series, the franchise’s second in three years. They’ve done this, however, despite being forced to weather injuries to the likes of Max Fried and Kyle Wright, two key cogs in the rotation.
3 Braves trade targets from Cardinals, 2 to avoid. light. More Braves
Manager Brian Snitker has done just about everything he can while dealing with these injuries to sort out the rotation, trying the likes of Dylan Dodd and Michael Soroka while even giving 20-year-old AJ Smith-Shawver a crack at the job. Though the latter looked solid in his first MLB start, his age and rapid ascension would lead you to believe the organization might prefer to bring him along a bit slower at the MLB level.
Even still, the Braves need to figure out how to sort the end of the rotation and Jack Flaherty could be the perfect option. Once Fried returns — Wright’s return is less certain — being able to run Fried, Spencer Strider, Flaherty as the top three in the rotation would be lethal, especially when rounded out with Bryce Elder and whoever retains the fifth starter role when the club is back at full health.