With the deal, Flaherty returns to the Tigers, a team that signed him as a free agent last offseason as well, inking him to a one-year, $14M deal. The right-hander posted a 7-5 mark and 2.95 ERA over 18 starts before being dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in late July.
Part of the return from Los Angeles was shortstop Trey Sweeney, who is penciled in as the starter at that position for Detroit this season.
After the deal, Flaherty continued his strong season for the Dodgers, going 6-2 over his 10 regular-season starts before stumbling in the postseason, giving up 18 earned runs in 22.0 innings.
Still, despite the rough October, Flaherty was a sought-after arm this offseason. Now, Detroit has added him to a new-look rotation that is led by American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and also includes fellow veteran Alex Cobb, signed to a one-year deal in December.
After making a late-season run to earn a spot in the 2024 postseason, the Tigers have been active this winter, not only on the pitching front but improving the lineup as well. Gleyber Torres agreed to a one-year deal in December, coming over from the New York Yankees to take over at second base in Detroit.
The Tigers are also still reportedly in the mix for free agent third baseman Alex Bregman.
This will mark Flaherty’s ninth MLB season, including seven seasons spent with the St. Louis Cardinals. Since being traded from St. Louis to the Baltimore Orioles at the 2023 trade deadline, Flaherty has yet to find a home for more than one season.
With this deal, the Tigers hope Flaherty settles in and helps them return to the postseason in 2025.
