The Cardinals announced they’ve reinstated Jack Flaherty from the 60-day injured list. He’s set to make his season debut tonight against the Pirates. In corresponding moves, the Cards optioned lefty Packy Naughton to Triple-A Memphis and designated catcher Ali Sánchez for assignment. Additionally, left-hander Matthew Liberatore has been sent back to Memphis after being added as the 27th man for yesterday’s doubleheader.
Flaherty went down in Spring Training with shoulder bursitis, an issue that required platelet-rich plasma treatment. He was shut down from throwing for a few weeks and the club gradually built him back into game shape once he was healthy enough to pick up a ball. That’s hardly a surprise considering the righty missed a month last season due to a shoulder strain (in addition to an extended absence because of an oblique issue). Flaherty told reporters in March he’s pitched through a small labrum tear for a while.
The 26-year-old has gotten through a brief rehab stint without incident, however, making a start apiece with Double-A Springfield and Memphis. He tossed 59 pitches last Friday, and manager Oli Marmol figures to play things cautiously with his pitch count in the early going. It’s unlikely Flaherty will toss 100+ pitches out of the gate, but he’ll offer an immediate boon nonetheless to a rotation without Steven Matz. The left-hander has been on the injured list since May 23 due to a shoulder impingement, and president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told reporters yesterday he recently underwent a second cortisone injection to manage continued discomfort (via John Denton of MLB.com).
Flaherty is one of the game’s top starters, owner of a 3.34 ERA in just under 500 career innings. He has punched out a strong 28.7% of opposing batters on the back of an excellent 13.3% swinging strike rate. It was more of the same last season when Flaherty was on the mound, as he pitched to a 3.22 ERA with a 26.4% strikeout percentage across 17 outings. He’ll join Adam Wainwright, Miles Mikolas and Dakota Hudson among the top four in the starting staff.
Sánchez loses his spot on the 40-man roster to accommodate Flaherty’s return. The 25-year-old backstop has been on the 40-man since being acquired from the Mets in February 2021, but he’s only appeared in two games with the big league club. Sánchez has spent the majority of his time in the organization on optional assignment to Memphis, where he’s hitting .255/.333/.409 through 123 plate appearances this season.
The Cardinals will have a week to trade Sánchez or look to run him through waivers. He’s never been an impact offensive player, but scouting reports praised his defense during his time climbing the New York farm system. He’s in his final option year, so another club could stash him in the upper minors for the rest of the season if they were to devote him a spot on the 40-man roster.
I have my fingers crossed that he will be healthy the rest of the season. Only time will tell.
Packy Naughten probably could have pitched as good or better than Flaherty did.
He pitched fine. Goldy at first and he pitches 4 or 5 scoreless innings. He is rehabbing at major league level per his request according to Marmol.
Nope-he’s not even healthy in the head.
What a huge addition to the Cardinals staff! If he can remain healthy for the rest of the season, the Cardinals easily become the favorites to win the NL Central unless Milwaukee does something spectacular at the trade deadline.
Going into tonight, the Cards run differential is +57, and the Brewers’ is +1. The Cards have opened up a 2.5 game lead. I think they’re going to start running away with it.
Also, the division is AWFUL. If the Brewers lose by 2 runs tonight, EVERY team except St. Louis will have a negative run differential.
What’s shocking is that Pittsburgh is in third despite a run differential of -103, about twice as bad as the trailing Cubs and Reds. Maybe that means I’m overvaluing the RD regarding St. Louis and Milwaukee.
He’ll suck-he needs to be jettisoned to LA as soon as they bite.
Well that looks like an offer no one can refuse !
Except the FBI agents who are hopefully hunting these clowns down
back in the 60s and 70s pitchers never had this many injuries and of course they pitched more innings. perhaps the training sucks
Back in the ’60s and ’70s pitchers were injured often. Many of their careers simply ended because today’s medical advances were not available. They also could coast through the bottom part of the order, so few were expected to throw mid-90s heat and/or crazy breaking balls every pitch.
Those pitchers were light years behind in raw ability compared to pitchers today. And I’m not talking the top performers. As a whole MLB pitchers now are far better athletes possessing superior physical traits. So it makes sense they would get injured more compared to players back then with the stress they put their bodies through.
Lie
Gbs should do more research
warrior
I got the under on Jack Flaherty playing in more games than the amount of wins the Jets are gonna win this season
I would take that bet but I never bet with a Jets fan. They don’t pay up.
Hopefully he can provide us with some woke insights on how all people should hold the same opinions and live their lives the same way.
Ah yes, athletes should not be able to express their opinions on social issues, if they don’t agree with your views.
On the other hand you, of course, should have the freedom to do so.
Makes perfect sense.
Ah yes, you must think fans have interest in what the athlete’s opinion is on social issues.
Hahaha….wow!
earmbrister-must be Russian for idiot.
Give Packy a longer look! He’s been pretty decent in a short showing. Let him work out of the pen or something.
Flaherty is all talk. Cards should trade the loudmouth while some idiot team will take him.
Well said
I think they will eventually, but it’s a hard to navigate situation imo. This year the cards need pitching, so there is almost 0 chance they trade him. He isn’t coming back when he hits FA after next year.
The only thing that could be feasible is trading for another pitcher that will be an FA after this season and maybe get a prospect out of the deal. Still might be a bad trade though.
Flaherty stunk… Maybe he should spend less time worrying which Tampa Rays wear Pride pins and more on his pitching?
Maybe Flaherty should worry about getting healthy instead of being a justice warrior. Guy has alot to say for someone whose made one start this year.
He’s the absolute joke