Phil Maton was an incredibly fun breakout story with the St. Louis Cardinals prior to getting dealt to the Texas Rangers on trade deadline day, logging a 2.35 ERA and 30.5% strikeout rate in 38 1/3 innings in St. Louis this past season.
The veteran reliever signed with the Cardinals in spring training and made the Opening Day roster, emerging as one of the more valuable rental relievers in the sport. At 32 and with a spotty track record of success, he was always going to be traded for prospects at the deadline, though hope persisted that a reunion was on the table.