4 Cardinals-Yankees trades that just make too much sense at the trade deadline

Trade #3

Cardinals receive: RHP Clayton Beeter and RHP Richard Fitts

Yankees receive: RHP Jack Flaherty

Did you know that Jack Flaherty has been one of the best starters in baseball as of late?

Over his last six starts, Flaherty has a 4-1 record with a 3.54 ERA and has helped put the Cardinals in a position to win every outing. That's what you want from a solid number three or four starter, which is what the Yankees would be hoping to acquire here.

With a rotation already consisting of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes, Luis Severino, and Domingo German, they do not need to make a huge swing with the starter they acquire. In fact, Flaherty is probably the exact kind of guy they'd need. Ceiling to produce more than what they need, but enough of a floor to be counted on as a number five as well.

Richard Fitts is another arm that would likely be able to contribute in 2024. He's the Yankees' number eight prospect and boasts a plus fastball and plus slider mix that gives him good strikeout stuff. His fastball has a natural cut to it, but he also throws an actual cutter some of the time as well. If his changeup and command develop some more, you've got a nice middle-of-the-rotation arm.

Some people are going to say "Why would the Cardinals need another middle-of-the-rotation starter?". Well, they've been having to pay guys $10-$18 million AAVs to fill that role since they do not have internal options who can do so. Having a guy like Fitts slot into that role on the league minimum allows St. Louis to invest more dollars or assets into front-line pitching.