Dodgers analyst makes feelings clear on Jack Flaherty option amid Shohei Ohtani, Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May uncertainties

The Los Angeles Dodgers bolstered their roster last season by acquiring Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers. Flaherty had initially signed a one-year, $14 million deal with Detroit in December 2023 and delivered a stellar performance.

The pitcher compiled a 13-7 record with a 3.17 ERA and tallied an impressive 194 strikeouts during the regular season for the Dodgers. His contributions proved invaluable, especially in the playoffs, where he became a key figure in the Dodgers' injury-ridden rotation.

Now the team is posed with the question whether they should re-sign him to increase its starting pitching depth. On the Dodgers Territory podcast, analyst Clint Pasilas spoke about why the Dodgers could make a push for their hero from last season.

As per Pasilas, the Dodgers rotation has a few issues to solve, especially with Shohei Ohtani still dealing with his elbow injury and Clayton Kershaw yet to sign a new contract. Even returning players like Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin are question marks because they haven't pitched in the MLB in a long time.

"If you'd asked me this question two weeks ago, I would have said no. I would have said I think the time for somebody like Jack had passed, but then you start learning, hey, Shohei Ohtani is not going to be available for probably the first month or two of the season. You don't know when Clayton Kershaw's services are going to be ready to go or when they're even going to sign him.

"You don't know what you have in Tony Gonsolin, who hasn't thrown a major league pitch in a year and a half. Same with Dustin May, he hasn't been on the mound for a while. You're getting some other dudes back from injury. There's just a lot of, I would say, concern out there," Pasilas said. [4:18]

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Jack Flaherty could take a short-term contract

At 29 and good numbers to back his skill set up, Jack Flaherty could get a five or six-year contract. But as per insider Ken Rosenthal, Flaherty alongwith outfielder Anthony Santander are looking for shorter deals with a higher annual value.

“At least two — right-hander Jack Flaherty and outfielder Anthony Santander — are open to considering short-term deals with high average annual values, according to league sources briefed on their discussions,” Rosenthal wrote for The Athletic.

Many teams have been linked to Flaherty, including the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels and even the Dodgers' closest rivals San Francisco Giants.