The St. Louis Cardinals have seen a trend of former players thriving after leaving the team, raising concerns about past trades. A notable example is Jack Flaherty, who excelled with the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers, helping the latter secure a World Series title.

Flaherty, now a free agent, is projected to sign a lucrative deal after a successful season. However, the Cardinals may not be able to afford his potential $20 million annual salary due to financial constraints and injury history.