Pitcher Jack Flaherty is set to return to the Detroit Tigers, having reached an agreement on a two-year contract worth $35 million, according to sources familiar with the matter.
This individual, who requested anonymity due to the need for a successful physical before finalizing the deal, noted that Flaherty has the option to opt out after the 2025 season, allowing him the chance to enter free agency once again.
Should Flaherty choose to opt out, he would have already secured $25 million from the signing bonuses and salary associated with this new contract.
Flaherty, a 29-year-old right-handed pitcher, had an impressive performance last year, achieving a record of 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA over 28 starts shared between the Tigers and his hometown Los Angeles Dodgers.
He was acquired by the Dodgers at the trade deadline on July 30 and played a crucial role in their five-game World Series triumph against the New York Yankees.
Flaherty began the World Series with a standout performance, pitching five scoreless innings in Game 1, before allowing two runs in the sixth inning.
In Game 5, he surrendered four runs over just 1 1/3 innings, but the Dodgers were able to secure a dramatic 7-6 victory, capturing their second championship title in a five-year span.
Flaherty made his major league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017 and enjoyed a breakout season in 2019, during which he recorded an 11-8 record and a 2.75 ERA while striking out a career-high 231 batters over 196 1/3 innings.
However, he faced challenges during the pandemic-affected 2020 season, finishing with a 4.91 ERA, followed by two injury-plagued seasons in 2021 and 2022.
In 2023, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles during the midseason.
Last season, Flaherty signed a one-year contract worth $14 million with the Tigers and had one of his most impressive showings in recent years, finishing with a 7-5 record and a 2.95 ERA prior to his trade to the Dodgers, where he further distinguished himself with a 6-2 record and a 3.58 ERA.
