As of Thursday, Baseball Reference gives the St. Louis Cardinals just a 4.8 percent chance to make the postseason this year, the worst odds in the entire NL Central, and over 15 percent less likely than the Pirates.
Given their veteran roster, the Cardinals have a few options. They could either enter a full-scale rebuild and give up on the season or continue to fight, recognizing there are still 100 games left and making trades to boost their postseason chances.
It’s unlikely that the Cardinals will opt for a rebuild. They are more likely to continue fighting rather than giving up, especially considering how poorly a majority of the National League has performed this season.
One move they could make to push towards the playoffs is trading for former Cardinal Jack Flaherty.
A Cardinals-Tigers trade to bring Jack Flaherty back to St. Louis for a playoff push
Flaherty began his career in St. Louis, starting 118 games over seven years with the Cardinals. He’s been a reliable above-average MLB pitcher and has shown his talent this year with 72.2 dominant innings for the Tigers.
Although he’s on an expiring deal, if traded back to St. Louis, Flaherty might be willing to re-sign with the Cardinals if offered an extension.
To acquire Flaherty, the Cardinals would need to part with one of their top pitching prospects, Gordon Graceffo. Graceffo has spent the last two seasons in Triple-A, showing significant promise before reaching the majors.
Graceffo’s fastball, which sits in the mid-90s and can reach up to 99 MPH, is impressive but not his best pitch. His mid-80s slider, which he commands well, is his standout offering. With improved overall command, he has the potential to join a big league rotation within the next year.
Levenson, a bat-first outfielder, has yet to meet expectations in the Cardinals system but still holds solid potential as an offensive outfielder, making him a valuable asset for the Tigers.
For the Cardinals, parting with these two prospects could be worthwhile if it boosts their playoff chances this season. Flaherty has performed well this year and would provide strong support alongside Sonny Gray at the top of the Cardinals rotation.
