John Mozeliak is About to Squander the Cardinals’ Best Trade Asset Due TO…

As the St. Louis Cardinals continue to search for answers amid their struggles to return to playoff contention, it seems they are on the verge of making a critical mistake that could haunt them for years to come. John Mozeliak, the team’s President of Baseball Operations, is reportedly about to squander the Cardinals’ best trade asset — one that could have been pivotal in reshaping the team’s future. This asset? None other than All-Star pitcher Jack Flaherty.

Flaherty, who was once considered one of the premier young pitchers in Major League Baseball, has seen his value skyrocket after a rocky 2021 season. After battling injuries, he made a return to form in 2023, showcasing his potential and reaffirming his place as one of the league’s most coveted arms. Yet, despite his re-emergence, the Cardinals find themselves in a precarious position as they risk losing Flaherty for little to no return.

The crux of the issue lies in how the Cardinals have handled the situation with Flaherty over the past few years. Despite his flashes of brilliance and his potential to become the team’s ace for the foreseeable future, the front office has repeatedly failed to lock him into a long-term deal or position themselves for a potential trade that could bolster the team’s rebuilding efforts.

Rather than making a decisive move to either extend Flaherty or trade him when his value was at its peak, the Cardinals have dithered, taking an increasingly passive approach to managing their assets. With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, it is becoming evident that the organization is not only failing to capitalize on the situation but is also dangerously close to wasting Flaherty’s value.

Part of the problem can be traced to a larger issue within the Cardinals’ organizational strategy. For several seasons now, Mozeliak has clung to the idea that the Cardinals were still in “win-now” mode, despite clear signs of decline. With Flaherty being one of the few bright spots on the roster, it seemed like a natural decision to either trade him for a substantial return or extend him with a deal that made sense for both sides. Unfortunately, the front office has seemingly been caught in a cycle of indecision.

Another layer to this problem is the current state of the team’s pitching staff. The Cardinals have struggled to develop and maintain consistent pitching over the past few seasons. The team’s inability to identify or develop a consistent and reliable starting rotation has been one of the primary reasons behind their subpar performances. Instead of using Flaherty as a cornerstone of a rebuilt pitching staff, the Cardinals now find themselves in a situation where they could end up letting him walk without the benefit of any major return.

As Mozeliak and his front office team continue to hesitate, other contenders are eyeing Flaherty’s potential as a midseason addition. Flaherty, with his high upside and playoff experience, would be a perfect fit for a number of teams looking to strengthen their rotations for the stretch run. However, if the Cardinals don’t act swiftly, it’s highly possible they will be forced to settle for a modest return or, worse, lose Flaherty in free agency with little to show for it.

This scenario is a direct result of the Cardinals’ inability to craft a coherent long-term strategy for roster construction and asset management. The front office’s failure to identify the right moment to pull the trigger on a trade or contract extension is indicative of a deeper issue that has plagued the organization for years.

The St. Louis Cardinals are at a crossroads, and John Mozeliak’s actions over the next few weeks will have lasting consequences. If he chooses to let Flaherty go without taking meaningful action — either through a lucrative extension or a high-value trade — it will not only be a significant missed opportunity but also a stark reminder of the current state of mismanagement in the Cardinals’ front office. The organization’s commitment to being competitive in the present while failing to plan effectively for the future may ultimately cost them one of their most valuable assets and keep them mired in mediocrity.