Detroit City Wire

The Detroit Tigers have announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty to a two-year contract valued at $35 million for the 2025-26 seasons. The agreement includes a player opt-out after the first year, a $5 million signing bonus, and a $20 million salary for 2025. Flaherty's salary for 2026 is set at $10 million, with potential to increase to $20 million if he makes 15 starts in 2025. Additionally, there is a one-time assignment bonus of $500,000.

Flaherty, who is 29 years old, returns to the Tigers after beginning the 2024 season with them before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 30. During his time with Detroit last offseason, he had a successful season, achieving a record of 7-5 with an ERA of 2.95 over 106.2 innings pitched in 18 starts. He demonstrated strong command by posting rates of 11.22 strikeouts per nine innings and only 1.6 walks per nine innings.

While playing for the Dodgers, Flaherty recorded a 6-2 record with an ERA of 3.58 over ten regular-season starts and contributed significantly during their postseason run, including pitching seven scoreless innings in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Mets. His efforts helped lead the Dodgers to win the World Series championship.

In total for the year, Flaherty went 13-7 with an ERA of 3.17 across both teams during regular-season play, accumulating 194 strikeouts and maintaining a low walk rate with only 38 walks issued over his innings pitched.

The upcoming season will be Flaherty’s ninth in Major League Baseball after previous stints with teams including the St. Louis Cardinals (2017-23), Baltimore Orioles (2023), Tigers (2024), and Dodgers (2024). His career record stands at 55-41 with an ERA of 3.63 over nearly eight hundred thirty innings pitched.

As part of his trade deal to Los Angeles last year, infielder Trey Sweeney and catcher Thayron Liranzo were sent from Detroit in exchange for Flaherty. Sweeney debuted in major league baseball soon after and played significant roles as shortstop during key games leading up to Detroit's first playoff appearance in ten years.

Jack Flaherty was born in Burbank, California and attended Harvard-Westlake High School before being drafted by St. Louis as their first-round pick in the MLB Draft back in 2014.