MLB London Series: 3 Cardinals and 2 Cubs who can up their trade stock overseas
By Kevin Henry
The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs renew their historic rivalry in MLB London Series, but there could more on the line than just wins for these two franchises.
Set to do battle inside London Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals will both enter the clash below the .500 mark, with the Cardinals lodged in the cellar of the National League Central. With that in mind, the trip overseas isn’t just about gaining ground in the standings, but perhaps also about potential trade chips adding more value for their franchises at the upcoming MLB trade deadline.
Which players could be under the microscope as trade chips? Let’s take a look.
St. Louis Cardinals MLB London Series trade candidate: Jack Flaherty
The 27-year-old right-hander is scheduled to take the mound in Sunday’s finale, which will mark his 16th start of the season. Flaherty has thrown 80.0 innings this season, logging a 4.95 ERA/4.21 FIP/1.600 WHIP. With a league-leading 44 walks issued this season, Flaherty needs to show on a national (on ESPN) and international stage that he still has the tools to be a solid arm that a postseason contender could add at the deadline.
Flaherty is scheduled to become a free agent at the season and the rumor mill is swirling about his potential availability. Could the Cardinals deal him away in order to rebuild for 2024? That’s the current buzz, so a good showing by Flaherty on Sunday night could reverse a recent trend where he has given up six earned runs in each of his last two starts.