Report: Orioles Closing in on Deal for Cardinals P Jack Flaherty

After positioning themselves as trade deadline buyers for the first time in years, the Orioles snuck in a deal just before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline to land an impact starting pitcher for the stretch run.

Baltimore is reportedly acquiring righthander Jack Flaherty in a trade with the Cardinals, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The move will give the first-place Orioles a boost to the rotation as they look to hold off the Rays in the American League East. Baltimore entered the day 1 1/2 games ahead of Tampa Bay with 56 games to play.

The Orioles are in need of starting pitching help following the demotion of Tyler Wells to the minors. Wells is 7–6 with a 3.80 ERA on the season, but had struggled of late, allowing 11 runs across nine innings over his last three starts.

Flaherty, 27, was once among the game’s best young pitchers. He’s spent his entire career with the Cardinals after the organization selected him in the first round of the 2014 draft. During his age-23 season, Flaherty finished fourth in Cy Young Award voting in 2019, but has had an up-and-down path since then while battling injuries.

This year, Flaherty owns a 7–6 record with a 4.43 ERA over 20 starts. He will become a free agent after the season.