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Braves Rumors: 3 last-minute trades Atlanta needs to make to win World Series

By Cody Williams

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 30: Raisel Iglesias #26 of the Atlanta Braves reacts with Sean Murphy #12 after their 8-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Truist Park on July 30, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 30: Raisel Iglesias #26 of the Atlanta Braves reacts with Sean Murphy #12 after their 8-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Truist Park on July 30, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves trade rumors, Braves Rumors, Jack Flaherty, St. Louis Cardinals
PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 2: Jack Flaherty #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on June 2, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

2. Braves trade for rotation help by landing Cardinals RHP Jack Flaherty

One of the biggest names still undoubtedly available at the trade deadline is Cardinals right-hander Jack Flaherty. Both he and Jordan Montgomery are on expiring contracts and, with St. Louis retooling for the 2024 season amid a dismal 2023 campaign, they were always likely to be dealt.

Montgomery is now on the Rangers after being moved with relief pitcher Chris Stratton for a pair of Top 20 prospects in Texas’ system. Flaherty, who has been far more inconsistent this season and in recent years as well, will likely still be expensive in this pitching market at the deadline, but should come at a slightly less cost than Montgomery did for the Rangers.

It’s truly been an up-and-down type of 2023 seaon for Flaherty, resulting in a 4.43 ERA and 1.55 WHIP on the season over 20 starts for the 27-year-old hurler. He could, however, be getting hot at the right time, which could benefit the Braves as a rental option to add at the trade deadline. In five starts in July, Flaherty posted a 3.03 ERA and 1.42 WHIP while accruing a 3-1 record for the Cardinals.

What could be interesting for the Braves is to package some of their highest-valued prospects like Vaughn Grissom, Jared Shuster and others to try and move St. Louis not just to move Flaherty to Atlanta, but perhaps package players like Alec Burleson, Dylan Carlson or another of the glut of outfield depth the Cards have in order to bolster that part of the Atlanta lineup as well.

Given the cost of just Flaherty and the Cardinals’ eagerness to trade for MLB-ready talent to help compete in 2024, the Braves might be a perfect trade partner in order to address their own pressing need as well.

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