Jack Flaherty rumors: Dodgers hurler could get nine-figure deal in offseason, per MLB analyst
Jack Flaherty has made an impressive start to his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers after joining the team from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline. The right-handed starting pitcher will be a free agent at the end of the season, and Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report believes that Flaherty could likely land a nine-figure salary for his next contract.
Miller stated that Flaherty will be one of the most coveted starting pitchers in the next offseason when he becomes a free agent once more, and he has the potential to sign a massive contract as a result.
"Unless he crashes and burns down the stretch with the Dodgers or unless the medical history becomes a major problem this winter, Flaherty might sign the largest contract this offseason among pitchers not named [Corbin] Burnes. A nine-figure deal is a very real possibility here," he added.
Thus far, Jack Flaherty has played eight years in the major leagues. He spent the first six and a half years of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals until he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles last year. He then signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Detroit Tigers at the start of the 2024 season before joining the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 30.
During his spell with the Tigers, Flaherty posted a 7-5 record in 18 starts with an excellent 2.95 ERA and 0.956 WHIP. The 28-year-old has continued his hot streak with his new team, having picked up wins in both of his starts while he has allowed just four runs in the 11.2 innings he has pitched.
The New York Yankees were also interested in signing Jack Flaherty during the trade deadline but reportedly backed out from offering a deal due to concerns over his past medical record. Flaherty has not pitched more than 145 innings in a season since 2019.
Jack Flaherty proving his doubters wrong in 2024
Despite being an accomplished starting pitcher in the MLB, Jack Flaherty did not receive any long-term offers when he was a free agent at the end of 2023. Teams were mostly concerned about his medical history. They also worried that his abilities would regress in the near future.
Flaherty missed several weeks of the 2021 campaign due to an oblique strain, and he was on the sidelines for a large chunk of the 2022 season with a recurring shoulder issue. He stayed healthy for the most part in 2023, but he was unable to replicate his performance from previous years.
Therefore, Flaherty had to settle for a one-year contract with the Detroit Tigers for the 2024 season. However, he was outstanding for the Tigers in the first half of the campaign and became the hottest player available at this trade deadline.
The noise around Jack Flaherty regarding his health issues has subsided following his solid start with the Los Angeles Dodgers. As things stand, Flaherty is likely to be in much greater demand when he becomes a free agent again in comparison to last year.