The Cardinals will promote right-hander Jack Flaherty from Triple-A Memphis to make his MLB debut by starting Friday’s game against the Giants, per a team announcement. He’s not on the 40-man roster, but this morning’s unexpected trade of Mike Leake to the Mariners opened both a 40-man roster spot as well as a spot in the St. Louis rotation.
Flaherty, 21, was the 34th overall pick in the 2014 draft and ranked as the game’s No. 53 prospect on MLB.com’s midseason top 100 list. Both Baseball America and Fangraphs rated Flaherty comparably, at No. 57, on their own summer rankings of baseball’s top 100 prospects.
Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com note in their free scouting report that Flaherty’s velocity has ticked up to the mid-90s this year, adding that he has three “usable” secondary offerings, with his changeup the best of the bunch as a potential plus pitch down the line. Fangraphs’ Eric Longenhagen calls him a potential above-average starter, offering a similar take on his improved arsenal in 2017.
The 6’4″, 205-pound Flaherty is a product of Harvard-Westlake High School in Los Angeles — the same program that produced top picks Lucas Giolito and Max Fried. Flaherty opened the 2017 season at Double-A and dominated Texas League opponents to the tune of a 1.42 ERA through 63 1/3 innings before being bumped up to Memphis. His results in the Triple-A International League were similarly impressive, as Flaherty has logged a 2.94 ERA with 9.0 K/9, 2.5 BB/9 and a 41 percent ground-ball rate through 85 1/3 frames there.
The Cardinals’ clear hope is the Flaherty, Luke Weaver and currently injured but high-ceilinged Alex Reyes can occupy spots in their rotation for years to come. Flaherty is the last of the bunch to arrive in the Majors, and if he’s here to stay, he won’t qualify for arbitration until after the 2020 season. The earliest that Flaherty could become a free agent, given his current trajectory, would be upon completion of the 2023 campaign.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Flaherty has to be added to the 25-man by Thursday to be eligible for postseason play *if the Cards make it to October*, right?
Ya before September 1
He does not, no. I think the rule used to technically be worded that way, but even then, teams were allowed to swap out players that were in the org but not on the roster come Sept. 1 for injured players (i.e. anyone that finishes the season on the DL — not just players that are injured in the postseason).
That’s how Raul Mondesi made his MLB debut in the World Series, for instance. Matt Moore is another example of a guy that was brought up after Sept. 1 but still pitched in the postseason that year.
Yeah you just gotta be in the org.
i think it has to be o.k.’ed through the league and the other team also.
I believe he has to just be on the 40 man roster before Sept 1st to be eligible.
Don’t worry, Cards aren’t making the playoffs!
Correct – 40 man roster
Any player in the organization can be put on the playoff roster. Zero stipulations
Can’t wait to see this kid in action!
I am ready.
Only 21, but he appears ready. I think he’ll do well.
2014 MLB draft was really strong. So many MLB players and its only been 3 years
Any person on the 40-man roster by September 1 is eligible for post season. Wish we were headed there. Is it just me or is Carlos Martinez simply over rated?
Depends on who you’re talking to. If someone is trying to say he’s a legit ace (many on here were this offseason), then yes, he is IMO. If they’re saying he’s in the #1/#2 range, then no, he’s not.
He pitched alot better before he signed the extension.
It could be because all year he has had crap for run support and bad defense backing him up. He seems to be pressing and trying to do too much, and that could be a lack of trust in his teammates since he has been burnt so many times this year. Let’s not rush to judgement on him. This years team is horrible period. They’ve had two hot streaks all year, but otherwise have been a terrible team in just about every facet of the game. Anyone who thinks that this is a playoff team are just being homers. Now if Mo actually does something this offseason like getting rid of dead weight, a coaching shake up (matheny leaving would be wishful thinking), trading for stanton…you know actually making changes instead of just standing pat like they always do…then we can get an accurate assesment on cmart. Other than reyes he has the nastiest repertoire on the team. Unlike waino he got zero run support in most of his starts. Perhaps he will never be a true ace, perhaps he is trying too hard, perhaps it is bad coaching, or a combo of those. Liliquist is no duncan, the cards lack fundamentals since oquendo left, and they have way too many injuries so the training staff needs a make over. Lets not blame martinez for this being a terrible team all around.
The Cardinals are not getting Stanton. It’s comical how ppl are saying they have even the smallest shot.
They won’t get him because of management. However, if they really wanted him they could land him. They have a better farm than the giants who are the rumored front runner. Then again it depends on if the marlins decide to trade him or not.
You think 4.93 runs per game is awful run support? I would disagree sir. Lynn, Wacha, and Leake all get worse. While the defense isn’t elite, it isn’t awful. Statistically they are right in the middle of the pack. Martinez has made bone head plays that cost his team 2 games recently. You state we need an accurate assessment on C Mart but his defense got better this year and he is regressing. Solely Blaming this teams success on a GM is stupid. He doesn’t make horrible throws and Oquendo isn’t going to fix that either. Mo and Girsh can offer the world for Statnon and he can say no… But they are to be blamed if they don’t get him. Bad business saying they offered 4 players and get turned down. You don’t do things like that, to many ego’s get hurt. As far as standing pact, they are getting rid of dead weight and getting opportunities for younger players. What more do you want them to do?
What other dead weight on the field are you talking about? The organisation is seeing what they have before next season. Also are you really blaming the training staff for injuries? Players get hurt over a long season and issues can linger from year to year. Also who is blaming Martinez? It was just stated do you think he is over rated. This team is lacking certain elements to be elite. But every player on this team contributes to that. Martinez included…
I listen to Espn radio in STL and they were talking today that only 7 pitchers have thrown 200+ innings with a sub 3.50 at the age of 25 or younger in the last ten years and the only one on the list who wasn’t an ace was Mat Latos. So I think it’s important to remember how young he is and that he’s still learning
IMO, this is the most exciting thing to happen this season… Flaherty and Weaver are a sign of the future — break from this bizarre present season to date.
Not a fan of the cards in the slightest, but I can’t wait to watch this guy. I think he’s probably gonna be better than Reyes
I’ll second that — better than Reyes.
That’s high praise. And I hope you’re right
Hmm. Once again the Cardinals give a September callup to a pitching prospect who was not Rule 5 eligible. They did it with Reyes last year and it backfired mightily.
If backfired means Reyes shored up a shaky rotation and almost got the cardinals into the playoffs last year then yeah it backfired horribly. Flaherty is providing the same service this year and getting primed for the rotation next year possibly. Neither of these two pitchers had anything left to prove in the minor leagues and were considered upgrades to the rotation when called up.
IMO, they are wanting a team full of controllable Triple AAA players they can pay the league minimum and pocket all the $$$$, and maybe recoup their losses from regrettable signings. (Mo) Shrugging my shoulders.
Can you honestly say you would rather have Mike Leake starting in place of Jack Flaherty? At some point a prospect has to be given a chance. He has pitched excellent at AAA. Leake has struggled mightily the 2nd half. Just because a player is making more does not make him the better player. At one point, Yadi and Pujols we’re both making league minimum. Guess they shouldn’t have been called up.
You misinterpreted what I was saying. I was NOT complaining like you believe I was. I was merely trying to figure out what the front office’s plan was with all of this okay??
How many innings, realistically, will they give him? He’s already 14 over last year.
Maybe 3, 4 starts? 20ish innings?
I doubt he would pitch in October (unless our of the pen) even if the Cards did make it.