 Right-hander Jack Flaherty signed a one-year "pillow" contract with the Detroit Tigers last winter, aiming to re-establish his value after a challenging period. The gamble paid off handsomely, with Flaherty delivering an impressive 3.17 ERA over 28 starts for the Tigers and Dodgers. His stellar performance culminated in a World Series victory with the Dodgers, making him one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason.
Now back on the free agent market, Flaherty is expected to secure a significantly more lucrative deal than the $14 million he earned from Detroit last year. While much of the focus has been on Corbin Burnes following the Winter Meetings, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has provided insights into where Flaherty's market stands. One potential destination for Flaherty is a reunion with the Baltimore Orioles. According to Rosenthal, the Orioles are hesitant to pursue starting pitchers who have received a Qualifying Offer (QO) from their previous teams, as signing such players would require forfeiting draft capital. While the Orioles' primary target is Burnes, Flaherty could serve as a strong fallback option if they cannot re-sign their current ace. Flaherty's previous stint with Baltimore in 2023 was less than stellar, with a 6.75 ERA over 34 2/3 innings. However, Orioles' management acknowledged that Flaherty was fatigued during his first full 162-game season since 2019. With top free agents like Blake Snell, Yusei Kikuchi, and Nathan Eovaldi already off the market, Flaherty stands out as the best available pitcher not tied to a QO.
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