The San Diego Padres entered Thursday tied for the third and final spot in the National League Wild Card race, but San Diego must add at the deadline to keep its playoff hopes alive and well.
Padres general manager A.J. Preller will be on the phone around the clock between now and July 30, and he's hunting for a starting pitcher to fortify San Diego's rotation.
A hurler with the talent of Detroit Tigers' Jack Flaherty surely has Preller's attention, but Flaherty has multiple suitors, including the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians.
Should Preller enter the Flaherty sweepstakes and present the best offer he can? MLB.com's Mark Feinsand certainly thinks so, as Feinsand reported on Thursday that Flaherty is a legitimate option for the Padres.
"San Diego’s rotation has pitched well of late, but with Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish still out of action, the need remains to add a starter to bolster the starting staff," Feinsand said. "GM A.J. Preller is never shy about making a big move, and while the Padres have been linked to Garrett Crochet, impending free agent Jack Flaherty could be an option, too."
Flaherty, 28, is 7-5 this year for Detroit with an impressive 2.95 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 106 2/3 innings pitched.
In a crowded NL race, San Diego would benefit immensely from a collection of quality Flaherty starts in August and September.
More MLB: Padres surprisingly predicted to land White Sox All-Star in blockbuster deal
