Ex-Dodgers GM gives bold take on Jack Flaherty's free agency market

The MLB offseason has seen several starting pitchers find new teams over the last two months. However, former Los Angeles Dodgers ace Jack Flaherty remains without a team in free agency.

Jack Flaherty signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Detroit Tigers in December 2023. He was traded to the Dodgers ahead of the trade deadline in July last year.

While Flaherty was decent during the regular season, helping out an injury-riddled Dodgers rotation, he had an underwhelming postseason as the NL West team won the World Series.

Talking about Flaherty's free agency on NorCal Sports Network, former Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said (0:04 onwards):

"There is going to be competition because some good teams haven't done a whole lot yet. He pitched well for LA, he's always had good stuff. He's used the trade from Detroit to the Dodgers to his advantage and he pitched well."

Although Flaherty has failed to attract substantial interest from teams inthe offseason, Colleti feels every other team apart from the Dodgers can use the 2024 World Series winner in the rotation. He continued:

"Except for maybe the Dodgers, who are gonna make a run for Roki Sasaki too later this month, nobody has the surplus, everybody needs pitching. There's every other team in the league, that competes, has got the need. You don't want to go into a season with young pitching, unproven young pitching, because you don't know what you're gonna get."

Jack Flaherty reportedly set for a reunion with Detroit Tigers

Jack Flaherty finished with a 6–2 record, 3.58 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 10 starts for Dodgers in the regular season. While there were murmurs of a return to LA, the Dodgers signing All-Star pitcher Blake Snell on a five-year deal seemingly ended speculations of a reunion with the Dodgers.

According to The Athletic, Flaherty is seeking a five-year deal, similar to Snell in the offseason. Over the last few days the San Francisco Giants have reportedly emerged as a potential landing spot for Flaherty.

While a reunion with the Dodgers looks off the table, Flaherty's former team, the Tigers are reportedly interested in bringing him back to Detroit. According to Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report, the Tigers are willing to offer a three-year, $60 million contract for a potential reunion with reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.