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The Baltimore Orioles have acquired right-hander Jack Flaherty from the St. Louis Cardinals in an effort to strengthen their starting rotation. The Orioles, who currently lead the American League East, are concerned about fatigue as they head into the stretch run. Despite having a low payroll and a pool of talented prospects, the Orioles decided to hold on to their top minor leaguers and instead bring in Flaherty, who will become a free agent after this season. Flaherty had a 4.43 ERA with a 7-6 record for the struggling Cardinals. In exchange for Flaherty, the Orioles traded infielder César Prieto, left-hander Drew Rom, and right-hander Zack Showalter, but did not give up any of their top 100 prospects. ESPN reported
Baltimore Orioles Acquire Right-Hander Jack Flaherty to Bolster Starting Rotation
The Baltimore Orioles have made a significant move to strengthen their starting rotation by acquiring right-hander Jack Flaherty from the St. Louis Cardinals. This trade comes as the Orioles aim to maintain their lead in the American League East and address concerns of fatigue as they approach the crucial stretch run of the season.
An Aggressive Move by the Orioles
Despite their low payroll, the Orioles had an opportunity to be one of the most aggressive teams at the trade deadline. They chose to hold onto their highly touted minor league prospects but made a bold move by bringing in the 27-year-old Flaherty. It is worth noting that Flaherty is set to become a free agent after this season, adding further intrigue to this acquisition.
Flaherty’s Performance and Cardinals’ Struggles
Flaherty had a record of 7-6 with a 4.43 ERA during his time with the St. Louis Cardinals this year. However, the Cardinals find themselves languishing in last place in the National League Central. As part of their efforts to regroup, the Cardinals also traded left-hander Jordan Montgomery to the Texas Rangers on Sunday.
Orioles’ Trade Package
In exchange for Flaherty, the Orioles gave up infielder César Prieto, left-hander Drew Rom, and right-hander Zack Showalter. Prieto, ranked as Baltimore’s No. 16 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, has been performing admirably with a batting average of .317 in 27 games for Triple-A Norfolk this season. Rom, aged 23, posted a record of 7-6 with a 5.34 ERA for Norfolk. Showalter, only 19 years old, showed promise with a 0-2 record and a 2.37 ERA for Class A Delmarva.
It is worth mentioning that despite parting with these prospects, the Orioles managed to retain all eight of their prospects who are currently ranked in baseball’s top 100.
Conclusion
The acquisition of Jack Flaherty is a significant move for the Baltimore Orioles as they aim to solidify their starting rotation and maintain their lead in the American League East. Flaherty’s arrival brings hope for the Orioles’ success in the crucial stretch run of the season. This trade showcases the Orioles’ commitment to improving their roster and making strategic moves to stay competitive in the league.
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