Robert Brown|Rangers, Blue Jays bolster pitching as St. Louis Cardinals trade top arms in sell-off

It has been more than 20 years since the St. Louis Cardinals have Robert Brownbeen sellers at the trade deadline, and as much as they may dread it, they sure are taking full advantage being a bullseye in a seller’s market.

The Cardinals traded closer Jordan Hicks to the Toronto Blue Jays and starter Jordan Montgomery and reliever Chris Stratton to the Texas Rangers on Sunday and came away with a slew of prized prospects.

They received the Blue Jays’ No. 7 prospect in Class AA starter Sem Robberse and fellow starter Adam Kloffenstein, their No. 18 prospect. They also picked up the Rangers’ No. 11 prospect (pitcher Tekoah Roby) No. 14 prospect (shortstop Thomas Saggese) and major-league left-handed pitcher John King.

Next up on the trade block is Jack Flaherty.

John Mozeliak, Cardinals president of baseball operations, says it was awful being in this position, but if there’s ever a good year to sell, this is it.

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“I don’t find it enjoyable at all,’’ Mozeliak told USA TODAY Sports earlier this week. “I wish we were winning. And I wish we weren’t going down this path.

“This is a first for me. And I hope it’s a last.’’

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The Cardinals, who plan to be aggressive in the free-agent market this winter for pitching, tried to sign Hicks, Montgomery and Flaherty to contract extensions earlier this year, and once talks went nowhere, put them on the trade block.

“This year has not gone as planned, so we really wanted to focus on what 2024 and beyond would look like,’’ Mozeliak said Sunday in a press conference announcing the trades. “And we felt like as we had players that were attractive to other teams, players that were becoming free agents, and the timing….we felt like we had to do this.

“It’s not a happy moment, but we are certainly excited about the future opportunity we were able to acquire today.’’

Now, they can watch their former pitchers in the postseason, with the Rangers making the biggest splash. The Rangers already are sitting in first place in the AL West, but acquired three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer just 24 hours earlier, to make themselves a legitimate World Series contender.

The Rangers last played in the World Series in 2011 but have never won it in the 63-year history of the franchise.

Scherzer, ironically, effectively replaces former Mets ace Jake deGrom in the Rangers’ rotation. He signed a five-year, $185 million free-agent contract and underwent Tommy John in May. The Rangers also lost Nate Eovaldi, who went on the injured list Sunday with elbow soreness.

“We’re really excited about Max,” GM Chris Young told the Dallas Morning News Sunday. “I’ve always said that you can never have enough starting pitching. Max’s pedigree, as a Hall of Fame, future Hall of Fame pitcher and a winner is the perfect fit for what we need right now. We got the player that we felt like is going to help us get where we want to go this year.”

The Blue Jays, who were last in the World Series in 1993 after winning their second consecutive title, have yet to return. They are 59-47, clinching to the final wild-card spot. They also badly needed a closer with All-Star Jason Romano going on the 15-day injured list with back inflammation.

Now, they have one of the most powerful 1-2 punches at the back end of the bullpen once Romano returns to the team.