Cardinals linked to promising Nationals reliever in rumors ahead of deadline

The St. Louis Cardinals checked two items off their trade deadline to-do list on Monday when they made a three-way trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox.

That deal landed them right-hander Erick Fedde and also reunited them with former outfielder Tommy Pham while sending utility man Tommy Edman to Los Angeles. But it appears that they aren't done just yet.

According to John Denton of MLB.com, St. Louis has been linked to a key reliever with the Washington Nationals.

"One name linked to OF Dylan Carlson if the #STLCards deal him today is #Nats RHP Dylan Floro, per a source," Denton tweeted on Tuesday morning. "Floro, 33, won a World Series with the Dodgers in '20 and he's pitched for six teams. He gave up Paul Goldschmidt's walk-off HR on Sunday-his first HR allowed in '24."

With players such as Alec Burleson and Michael Siani emerging with the Cardinals in addition to the impending arrival of Pham, Carlson has essentially been squeezed out of a spot. The once-promising young outfield prospect had previously been linked to the Nationals, and a fresh start with another team could allow him to blossom into the player he was expected to be.

Floro would give the Cardinals another high-leverage option in their bullpen. Even after giving up Goldschmidt's walk-off home run on Sunday, the veteran right-hander is 3-3 in his 51 appearances with a 2.06 ERA. Over 52.1 innings pitched, he has fanned 40 batters and posted a 1.05 WHIP.

The 33-year-old has bounced around between the Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins, and Nationals over the course of his nine-year career. 2020 with the Dodgers was his best season prior to this year.

We'll see if a deal materializes between these two teams.

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