Tigers righty Jack Flaherty is being scratched from tonight’s start in Detroit against the Guardians, according to Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman says a trade “should be expected soon,” so the Tigers aren’t taking any chances. Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press isn’t aware of a deal in place, but agrees the Tigers “still plan to trade him.”
Flaherty, 29 in October, has a 2.95 ERA in 18 starts this year. Among pitchers with at least 100 innings, his 32 K% ranks fifth in all of MLB. Flaherty will be a rental, given the one-year, $14MM deal he signed with the Tigers back in December. The Tigers enter play tonight 5.5 games out in the wild card race, but their estimated 5.2% chance at the playoffs evidently is not enough to convince president of baseball operations Scott Harris to hang on to his co-ace and just issue a qualifying offer after the season.
Flaherty, a first-round pick by the Cardinals a decade ago, finished fourth in the NL Cy Young voting in 2019. An oblique strain cost him more than two months in 2021, after which he strained his shoulder and had to work out of the bullpen. Shoulder issues persisted into 2022, a season in which Flaherty tallied only 36 innings. Amid an unimpressive ’23 season, the Cardinals shipped their former ace to the Orioles in an uneventful deal. Just shy of a year later, the old Jack Flaherty is back, to the great benefit of the Tigers and his likely new team. Flaherty missed a few starts in June due to a back injury, but he avoided the IL and has taken his last three turns with excellent results.
If a Flaherty trade is prospect-focused, it will represent a nail in the coffin on the Tigers’ 2024 season. The club’s rotation depth is perilously thin behind Tarik Skubal and Flaherty, featuring veteran Kenta Maeda and rookie Keider Montero. Reese Olson is on the IL with an apparently mild shoulder injury, while Casey Mize is working his way back from a hamstring injury.
Flaherty is a top target for many contenders, given his excellence, past success, and availability. The Padres, Dodgers, Yankees, and Astros have been linked to him, and even the Orioles haven’t been ruled out despite the pitcher’s struggles with that club last year. That’s likely not a complete list of suitors for Flaherty.
Welcome to San Diego, Jack!
That would be great!
Why are the Dodgers starting him in San Diego tomorrow?
Clearly you didn’t read the headline nor the 1st sentence of the article!!!!
Clearly you are lost in this conversation or don’t know who he currently plays for.
Jack is about to hit the road.
Is he gunna come back, no more no more?
Orioles are going to make a play.
For Skubal I hope
I can’t see the Orioles trying him again. Flaherty stunk for them last year. If he falters, that’s two deadline deals for him that wouldn’t have worked out.
To be fair, last year Flaherty came as a reclamation project to Baltimore. Now he has rebounded to previous heights. With that said, I don’t see the Orioles as the prime suitor here either – plus they could indeed provide the necessary prospect heap that will necessary to acquire Skubal.
Gruß,
BSHH
I don’t want him in Baltimore. I’m glad he’s having a good year. I’m glad for Tigers fans. But if he is traded for prospects at the deadline again and tanks here again, it will just be unbearable.
@Melchez
I don’t know how that really impacts a trade for a resurgent Jack. literally a different ownership and the player is vastly different this year than the 2nd half of last season. his Ks could help the Os right now. no sense pouting about last year’s performance. seems childish.
Orioles should use prospects on guys with at least one more year of control. Snell is my first option, and Skubal only if they want to give up some of their top prospects. Bradish, Wells, and Means all miss at least some of next season and Burnes is a free agent.
Means is a free agent too
Snell has a player option for ’25. He’s essentially a rental for ’24 as it would seem unlikely (barring serious injury) that Snell would activate his option.
Bringing em back home to LA.
Yay! Go Brew Crew!
Brews FO doing nothing per usual
“Nothing per usual”…Doing “nothing” is far easier when you’re comfortably in 1st place. By the way, where are all the people who claimed the Brewers were “tanking” the season when they traded Corbin Burnes?
A brewers beat reporter hinted a big trade last night, got a feeling I will not like this deal as a Brewer fan. In general I’m not a fan of giving up real prospects for a rental, and it feels like this will include some good prospects.
Would rather get a lesser player with more club control, or a worse rental player for fringey prospects/AAAA guys.
“Real prospects for a rental”..I agree with much of what you’ve said, but this is the best chance the Brewers have had to get past the Dodgers in many years. Without the Dodgers in the way most years, the Brew Crew would’ve likely made a World Series appearance or two. And this year the Dodgers look highly beatable and now the Brewers have to figure out how to get past the Phillies.
Maybe, but it feels like every year “is different” and the Brewers neeed to make an exception. To me this year started out as year 1 of a retool, and pivoting after a very good first half is a mistake.
We aren’t ever going to be the favorite in a playoff series, so not a fan of putting alot of capital into the next 2-3 months.
In Arnold we trust I suppose, he knows what he’s doing, so I won’t get too upset either way.
I wouldn’t worry about real prospects being traded. The brewers philosophy is to stay competitive every year but never go for it.
Dang it.
I don’t want the Tigers throwing a no-name pitcher at Cleveland tonight.
Doesn’t matter who it is, this is Harris waving the white flag on the season.
… and wisely so.
The day Olson got hurt I was in Toronto watching the game. That was the day their playoff chances / chances of keeping Flaherty ended.
No, it’s not.
No what’s not Fife?
If the Giants are gonna trade Snell they should wait til the final hour
“Wait till final hour”..The Giants won’t be trading Snell. If they did and missed the playoffs by one game it would likely cost Farhan his job, 3 year extension or not. Not to mention Snell’s opt out severely complicating matters.
Farhan’s job is already tenuous. He needs to be bold and get some offense or he’s gone anyway. But he’s been timid and I think he might let this year’s long shot propel him into more mediocrity. NOT THAT I’M SUGGESTING the Giants grab Flaherty. But time to get what they can for Snell.
AJ on line 1 with a deal you can’t refuse!
Put us out our misery and get it done!
Man he’d look real good in the braves tuesday TBA spot.
we could use a break.
My first thought was Braves too. Much cheaper than Crochet, but can definitely help this season. A season which needs all the help it can get after all the injuries.
A packagevl fronted by Drake Baldwin works nicely.
They have Dingler no need for Baldwin
With zero MLB at bats Dingler has lots to prove still.
Exactly, then why would you trade for a catcher and not give him a chance to prove himself
Baldwin is a AA catcher (might have a dew games at AAA?).. Why not have a safety net or two catchers who can play like Atlanta?
Pitching isn’t your problem.
Strider Fried Lopez .. relying on Morton , Elder etc is a problem
You have one of the best pitching staffs in the league. One of the worst offenses in the league. I guess trading for pitching is oils be the obvious solution.
No one has been mentioning the Braves in the speculation about Flaherty, so Atlanta may just be his destination.
It’s going to be something big coming to Detroit, hang on to your hats !
It won’t happen but I’d love it if they sent him across the field to the Cleveland dugout.
“You’re pitching tonight! Here’s your New Jersey.”
I don’t know if you’re old enough to remember when Jhonny Peralta was traded from Cleveland to Detroit mid-game and simply walked over the other dugout exactly like you said.
Dodgers would be a good fit
No way he goes back to the orioles or cardinals
A top prospect ? Waku waku. This is fun.
The boss wrote the article. It must be true.
Going to Diamondbacks for E Rod…..oh wait, deal refunded E Rod won’t come to Detroit. Haha
Once a pitcher is coveted and reaches maximum value, sit him down until the trade is done. Smart move Detroit; now finish up the deal and get better for tomorrow.
I wonder how Cardinals fans would have felt about Flaherty being traded instead of Fedde from the White Sox. Any hard feelings there or just business as usual?
I’m sure they’ll let us know…
I hope Detroit gets someone good for him. It means Skubal won’t be TRADED now
It just means he could start tomorrow but why risk injury one day early
To the Orioles. Book it
My sources say BoSox.
Can they get him to Houston in time to start tonight’s game?
Just enjoy Skenes no hitting you tonight and worry about tomorrow.
It’s the Yankees.
My guess is Dodgers.
He’s going to the Guardians for Triston McKenzie and Juan Brito
I don’t hate that deal actually.
No chance the Guards shell out that package, right?
I can’t see it personally but who knows with some if the packages they are getting for pitching right now.
Next years 40 or better pick slot is usually a top 10 in any teams farm system. They should get a pretty nice pitcher back for him, or perhaps a near ready 6′ 5″ inch L.H, first baseman. Wishing and hoping !
We’ll see what happens. Deal could fall through and he starts tomorrow’s game. Harris was pretty firm that given where the comp pick would land that anyone who wanted him had to beat that.
Tigers can always call up Greinke and Rich Hill. Noah Syndegard… Trevor Baer?
Unless they get someone back who can pitch in MLB they might need to call Rich Hill after they trade Flaherty!
Dodgers receive: Jack Flaherty RHP & Andrew Chafin LHP
Tigers receive: Bobby Miller RHP, Josue De Paula OF & Justin Wrobleski LHP
Really? Never talked to Boston?
Oh well, that’s still pretty good…..
That would be a very nice package for Flaherty. I would like SS Alex Freeland and C Feduccia and maybe a throw in pitcher.
That’s way too much going back to detroit
Have you seen the returns so far this TDL for relievers ?
I don’t hate that deal, although Ferris would be nice.
My hope is that CLE didn’t want to face him tonight, so they made an offer for Flaherty DET couldn’t refuse. Guardians acquire Flaherty, move Bibee back to Tuesday’s start, and have Flaherty fave the Tigers tonight. Unlikely to go down like that, but it would make for a compelling deadline story.
More likely Cleveland called another team and begged them to make an offer for Flaherty so they don’t have to face him. Cleveland already acquired their gem Boyd
If Lopez is going to miss more than one start I think the Braves should pick him up.
97.1 F.M Detroit is on fire.
The perpetual rebuild just keeps on perpetuating itself….not sure when the end is in sight but by my best guesstimation I’ll go with 2027…oh my!
2025 when they make the playoffs. Bold prediction: trade Flaherty then resign him in the offseason. Next years staff: Skubal, Flaherty, Olson, Jobe, Mize. A couple tweaks like Jung at 2B or 3B, Kim at SS and a bat at 1B or 3B if Tork can’t figure it out.
Astros could be team going too. If were us wonder if could pitch against Skenes. Cards just got Fedde. He was one mentioned for Houston. Paredes was too for first and maybe move to third for Bregman. Eflin was mentioned for Houston. Lorenzen gone. Crochet not sure who will get him or not. Wants to stay in rotation and be extended. So not sure if turns anyone . But Houston needs pitching in the worst way. If going to stay in contention.
Brice Matthews would be a nice add.
Send a limousine to Lindbergh Field get him booked into the Manchester so he’s ready to go tomorrow. Welcome to San Diego
I prefer someone other than the Dodgers after they just took the White Sox to the cleaners.
Will the Tigers call up Jackson Jobe when this trade goes through?
No, they won’t rush him. They might call him up in September once the minor leagues are done.
Guardians please! Make it happen.
Brewers please?
This just in:: Flaherty signs with Nippon Ham Fighters.
Could always just sign Bauer. Like, that’s an option.
So Harris shows his yellow stripe by not starting Flaherty and trying to win a game THIS year. So what if his back tightened up?…we’re not even to August yet. If I had a season ticket I’d expect a refund for the next two months. A smart GM would get Jack on the phone with Boras and instead of telling him he’s traded, offer him 3 years for $45M with another $20M in incentive money. Because right now Jack is sitting there wondering why his life is in the hands of a little dork with a Pee Herman haircut. Sure it’s a game and a business but the wife has made friends, the kids are in school, the dog likes his vet….all about to go KAPLOOY thanks to Harris…..
I would be happy to see them sign Flaherty but no way he signs for what you are suggesting. The guy is 28 years old why would he sign for 3 years? And if they do sign him do it in the offseason after they grab some prospects for him. Kaplooy Colavito 😉 P.S. Welcome back.
I just explained to posters with a few minutes of recall how and why Jack would sign for the number I said. As usual you don’t have a clue…..few guys sign back with the club that traded them at the Deadline…..This “Colavito” character sure got your leg tingles going eh, Beaver? I have no idea who that is other than Rocky who hit bombs when the Tigers were 5 runs up or 5 runs down.
Sure dude. I know it’s you. Welcome back.
(((((((((((STALKER ALERT)))))))))))))))))
3 years $45 mil? That is way too cheap. This past winter MLBTR thought he would get 3 years $40 mil after a bad year. He’s having an amazing year. I think it’ll be closer to 5 years $100 mil.
How many MLBTR writers ever played pro baseball or worked in a front office? I did.
Over the top comment of the day!
Please seek help.
What kind of help do you have in mind? I need my lawn mowed…interested?
BTW, $15M per and $20M in incentives brings the total value up to around $22m per…..think more, post less, maybe?
I wonder why you don’t work in baseball anymore? And not for nothing, but why not actually identify yourself instead of presenting this claim and expect people to believe it.
Just wait. He has more he’ll throw your way now that you called him out. We are all idiots according to him. Some mildly amusing and creative insults. He used to be “Colavito” on here until he got kicked off.
And the Guardians continue to snooze. The only contending team, as far as I can tell, yet to make a move — except to get Flaherty scratched from tonight’s game in Detroit.
And they won’t. They sat on their hands during the offseason and they blew up the first half. The FO has proven to themselves what works and that’s doing nothing. Don’t be surprised when this team goes thud shortly because of an exhausted bullpen.
Did you miss the Lane Thomas news?
Wow, rough start tonight, trade who they can, it’s going to be a long 2 months.
New guy retires the side!
New guy should have started!
Associated Press: Flaherty to Oakland
Jack Flaherty will NOT be traded this season. Eduardo Rodriguez was NOT traded last season.
Shhhhh…..you’ll upset the groupies who never understand the players are actual people living actual lives….it’s all calculator nonsense to them.
Eduardo was traded last season. He had a no trade clause and activated it.
Major league ready starter plus a position player is the price for Flaherty.
They are not tradining Flaherty and blowing a big hole in their rotation uless they get at least one young major league starter or a starter ready for MLB @ AAA.
Dodgers have several pitchers @ AAA that are major league ready like:
Nick Frasso, River Ryan, Kyle Hurt all fit the bill of young starters who coudl slide right into the Tigers rotation
+ add a promising young INF or OF who can field and hit.
We thought Hurter and Madden were MLB-ready too……oh oh. Until you do it in The Show, you’re just another close-call, But I agree…why trade Flaherty when what you get back may or may not be another Flaherty?