5 St. Louis Cardinals players in line for contract extensions

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 15: Jack Flaherty #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches in the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on September 15, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 15: Jack Flaherty #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches in the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on September 15, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – JULY 24: Starter Jack Flaherty #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers during the first inning of the Opening Day game against the Pittsburgh Piratesat Busch Stadium on July 24, 2020 in St. Louis, Missouri. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – JULY 24: Starter Jack Flaherty #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers during the first inning of the Opening Day game against the Pittsburgh Piratesat Busch Stadium on July 24, 2020 in St. Louis, Missouri. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images) /

Jack Flaherty

The injuries have piled up for Jack Flaherty, as shoulder issues have led to 2021 and 2022 being disappointments. The few games he has pitched this season haven’t inspired much confidence, as his five earned runs and nine walks in eight innings weren’t what the Cardinals and their fans wanted to see. He should be ready for another chance with the team later this month.

Despite his subpar season when he played, the thought of his recreating that second half in 2019 is so tantalizing. An 0.91 ERA in 99.1 innings probably would have made him the Cy Young favorite had he been able to display that dominance earlier in the season. If Flaherty hadn’t been a top prospect before, perhaps I would have been more skeptical of that performance, but the fact is that he has the talent to do it again, and I want to see him do it in a Cardinals uniform.