Orioles trade three prospects to get right-hander Flaherty from Cardinals

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired right-handed pitcher JACK FLAHERTY from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for left-handed pitcher DREW ROM, minor league infielder CÉSAR PRIETO, and minor league right-handed pitcher ZACK SHOWALTER.

Flaherty, 27, is 7-6 with a 4.43 ERA (54 ER/109.2 IP),116 hits, 56 total runs, 10 home runs, 54 walks, eight hit batters, and 106 strikeouts in 20 starts for the Cardinals this season. In his last 13 starts since May 9, he is 5-2 with a 3.58 ERA (30 ER/75.1 IP) and 70 strikeouts. Flaherty has spent his entire career with St. Louis after being selected in the first round (No. 34 overall) of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Harvard-Westlake High School in Los Angeles, Calif. Since making his MLB debut in 2017, he has more strikeouts (706) than any other Cardinal while throwing the third-most innings (633.0) during that time. Flaherty has not yet reported.

Rom, 23, has gone 7-6 with a 5.34 ERA (51 ER/86.0 IP) and 100 strikeouts to 46 walks in 19 games (18 starts) for Triple-A Norfolk this season. He was recalled by the Orioles on May 9, but did not appear in a game prior to being optioned to the Tides on May 11. Rom had his contract selected to the 40-man roster on November 15, 2022. He was ranked as the No. 18 Orioles prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Rom was selected by the Orioles in the fourth round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Ky.

Prieto, 24, has slashed .349/.393/.475 (117-for-335) with 20 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 49 runs scored, 49 RBI, 23 walks, and seven stolen bases in 85 games between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk this season. He made his Triple-A debut with the Tides on June 21. He was ranked as the No. 16 prospect in Baltimore’s system, according to MLB Pipeline. A native of Abreus, Cuba, Prieto was signed by the Orioles as an international free agent on January 15, 2022.

Showalter, 19, has gone 0-2 with a 2.37 ERA (8 ER/30.1 IP) with 41 strikeouts to 14 walks in nine games (eight starts) between the Florida Complex League (FCL) Orioles and Single-A Delmarva this season. A native of Tampa, Fla., Showalter was selected by the Orioles in the 11^th round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of Wesley Chapel High School in Wesley Chapel, Fla.