Jack Flaherty is returning to the Motor City, as ESPN’s Jeff Passan (multiple links) reports that the right-hander has signed a two-year deal with the Tigers worth $35MM in guaranteed money. The frontloaded deal pays Flaherty $25MM in 2025, and he can opt out of the second year of the contract this fall to re-enter free agency. Flaherty will earn at least $10MM in 2026, though he can unlock up to an additional $10MM in incentive bonuses if he makes 15 starts this season. The deal will become official once Flaherty passes a physical, and the right-hander is represented by CAA Sports.
The new contract is a healthy increase over the one-year, $14MM deal Flaherty signed with Detroit in December 2023, as the righty was looking to rebuild his value after a few injury-marred and inconsistent seasons with the Cardinals and Orioles. Flaherty got himself back on track in impressive fashion, delivering a 2.95 ERA over 18 starts and 106 2/3 innings for the Tigers before he was dealt to the Dodgers at the trade deadline.
Now pitching for his hometown team, Flaherty had a 3.58 ERA in 55 1/3 regular-season innings for L.A. and had a couple of big moments in the playoffs, most notably seven shutout innings against the Mets in Game 1 of the NLCS. After capturing his first World Series ring, Flaherty headed into the open market in search of a lucrative long-term deal, bolstered by his 2024 production and unencumbered by a qualifying offer.
MLBTR rated Flaherty eighth on our list of the winter’s top 50 free agents, projecting that he’d land a five-year, $115MM contract as he entered his age-29 season. Even as other pitchers exceeded salary expectations, Flaherty’s market remained relatively cold, and he said in an interview on the Foul Territory podcast just over a week ago that he had received little in the way of formal contract offers. A couple of weeks ago, reports suggested that Flaherty was open to the type of shorter-term deal with an opt-out that he ended up signing for his second stint in a Tigers uniform.
The Mets, Cubs, Red Sox, Giants, Blue Jays, and Orioles were all linked to Flaherty at various points during the offseason, and reports of Detroit’s interest in a reunion first surfaced back in early December. Flaherty noted during his Foul Territory interview that he “wanted to stay in Detroit” before the deadline trade, and “loved” his previous time with the team, particularly pitching alongside Tarik Skubal in the rotation.
It could be that Flaherty lingered this long on the open market because teams wanted to see more than just his 2024 season before being sold on a longer-term commitment. Injury concerns may have been a factor, as the Yankees pulled out of a planned deal to acquire Flaherty at the deadline after looking at his medical records. Apart from one skipped start due to a bad back, Flaherty was otherwise pretty healthy in 2024, avoiding the injured list and tossing 184 combined innings during the regular season and postseason. His average fastball velocity was a modest 93.3mph, however, and he lost some velo later in the season after the trade.
Looking elsewhere on the Statcast page, Flaherty posted an excellent 29.9% strikeout rate and 5.9% walk rate, along with strong hard-contact and chase rates to go along with his 3.17 combined ERA with Detroit and Los Angeles. It was the kind of form that Flaherty hadn’t shown over a full season since 2019, when he finished fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting while pitching with the Cardinals.
It is relatively uncommon to see a player get dealt by a team at the trade deadline and then re-sign with that same team the following offseason, yet the way this scenario played out, the Tigers’ decision to move Flaherty couldn’t have worked out much better. Detroit received prospects Trey Sweeney and Thayron Liranzo from the Dodgers, and Sweeney already made an impact by becoming the Tigers’ regular shortstop down the stretch. Unlike most deadline sellers, the Tigers caught fire late in the season and made an improbable playoff run, going 31-13 over their last 44 games to win a wild card berth, and Detroit then upset the Astros in the Wild Card Series before taking the Guardians to the full five games in the ALDS.
After relying on the “pitching chaos” strategy for much of that run, the Tigers’ rotation looks a lot more stable heading into 2025. Flaherty and fellow new signing Alex Cobb join Skubal, Reese Olson as pitchers with set rotation spots, and the list of fifth starter candidates includes the likes of Kenta Maeda, Casey Mize, Jackson Jobe and Matt Manning. Detroit might well keep this entire group to guard against injuries, but there’s enough depth here that the Tigers could consider trading a starter to address another primary need, like relief pitching or a right-handed bat.
Among Detroit’s primary free agent signings this winter, Cobb, Gleyber Torres, and Tommy Kahnle all signed one-year contracts and Flaherty’s deal might also end up as a one-year pact should he exercise his opt-out clause. Even if Flaherty passes on his opt-out, all these signings fit president of baseball operations Scott Harris’ preferred model of shorter-term contracts. This isn’t to say that the Tigers haven’t at least explored longer-term deals (i.e. their ongoing pursuit of Alex Bregman), but focusing on just short-term upgrades has allowed the club to keep its financial powder dry for a bigger splash in the future. Flaherty, Colt Keith, and Javier Baez are the only Tigers players guaranteed money beyond the 2025 season.
While naturally Flaherty would’ve preferred to have locked down a pricey long-term deal already, another quality season will surely line up nicely for such a contract next winter, even if a full year with the Tigers would make him eligible for a qualifying offer. In the interim, he’ll bank at least a $25MM payday, and pitch in a comfortable and familiar environment on what looks to be a contending team.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
What a steal! Love this move.
Hopefully $20/$15 split on years so he can make more and opt out after a good year.
That’s what I was thinking. Get a QO worth of money year one then an opt out with a smaller second year.
it’s 25 mill and 10 mill the 2nd option year
Had a pretty good year and no one wanted him long term. Might not change next year but worth a try. Opt out is great. Although if he never had a QO that could hurt his market next year.
Unless Flaherty bombs this year, this is basically a 1 year contract for $25M. A 2025 season with a 3.00 – 3.50 ERA and matching ERA+ and Sierra will get him a 4-5 year deal for $100M+. He’ll only be 30 years old next season and have a track record of staying healthy for consecutive seasons. That’s what scared teams away from him this offseason on a multi-year deal (health concerns), but if he performs in 2025, he’ll get his big contract.
Detroit fans have to be excited about this deal. This really solidifies their rotation.
And he can now be traded back to the Dodgers in July.
I wonder if this takes them out of the Bregman hunt?
Bregman was NEVER going to Detroit.
I don’t know. A player signing there on a one-year deal seems crazy, Seattle would be too, but if this is the last real contract that player will sign he should be open to it. The Gleyber deal was shocking to me. Baez signing there was not.
It’s technically a 1 yr deal is the 2025 salary is $25M with an opt out or a 2nd year at $10M
Once again Angels management sleeping at the wheel.
Great deal for Detroit.
Artie sell the team.
My thoughts exactly. Local guy, even if you had to pay a little more for him than the tigers did, that still would’ve been a solid deal on a short term.
Guess they’re sitting out the rest of the offseason. Smh
urnuts,
Flaherty would have to want to sign with the Angels. Instead he signed with a team that will be competitive.
“Angels sleeping at the wheel..great deal for Detroit”…Artie Moreno has proven that he cannot win baseball games no matter how many free agents he signs.
He’s overruled his own GMs time and again, to sign players to some of the biggest contracts in baseball history(at the time).
But, until the Angels begin to draft and develop better, there’s no amount of free agents that can turn Anaheim into a consistent winner on the baseball diamond.
Yeah because Flaherty would be the difference between the Angels being a good or bad team lol.
@mlb fan. He probably took a hometown discount. I don’t believe the angels were linked to him. He’s younger so he can take a couple one year deals and hit the market at 30. Regardless He’s going to get paid.
@darren. Has anyone said that. I haven’t seen it or do you like replying to yourself.
I don’t disagree, they’re probably looking at another fight for 4th. But they said the same thing about the Royals. What kind of impact would Wacha and Lugo really have for a team that finished with over 100 losses in ‘23? They were projected for 75 wins last year, a marked improvement for sure, but not a playoff team.
Good pitching and development of the young guys can make a huge difference. Guys like Neto and O’Hoppe showed a ton of growth last year. I’d argue the Royals would kill for someone like Ward to help anchor that lineup.
This account is the most whiny homer account on the boards. He even answers his own posts.
@Darren Just like your namesake, do you ever offer anything that isn’t just snark ?? Just curious, haven’t seen it.
He could have helped them get closer to 500 and maybe entice them to make moves if they’re in the hunt, even if it’s on the outside
Angels have to pay a loser tax. Loser because you stink, loser because your rep stinks. But if you pay enough times and improve the foundation, then you have a different environment and perception
Everyone has predicted Bregman to the Tigers. Except for Detroit fans themselves.
jack flaherty needs a new agent
2 yr/35 mil
thats all???
Seems like the medical reservations that turned the yankees off at the deadline spooked the pitching market for him as well
Yankees made a huge mistake. Dodgers probably not winning the World Series without trading for Flaherty.
“I’ve made a huge mistake.”
– everyone on “Arrested Development”
No doubt Flaherty’s 8.10 WS era put the Dodgers over the top.
Should’ve hired Boras
“Spooked the pitching market”..That and his overall year to year pitching inconsistency.
Front loaded with an opt out. Basically 1 year for 25M$.
good #s for different teams in both leagues, and won a WS.
kikuchi got 63mil, eovaldi & manea got 75mil each, severino got 67 mil. this makes about as much sense as mavericks trading luka doncic
“As much sense..Mavericks trading Luka Doncic”..We’re already hearing various reports about serious discord between Doncic’s handlers(and inner circle)and Mavericks team management.
Another report states team management felt Doncic was not committed to high level conditioning and feared giving him a supermax deal of $345M.
There really had to be a lot of tension and turmoil going on behind the scenes for the Mavericks to have traded their team’s biggest star.
I never watch NBA but skimmed a article. Dude needs $ next year. I’d rather pay someone who isn’t fat lazy injury prone that $. Easy trade for Dallas. Davis is under contract for next year as well. Entire extra year for free. And draft pick. Sounds great. Fat kid scores more but Davis scores and plays defense and is taller. In playoffs he might be just as good or better. At least close enough. With extra year it’s a steal. LA just wants that international star power. That probably makes cents.
@johncoltrane. The others signed before the ink dried. He obviously overplayed his hand.
He’s not that good and it’s so obvious he has shady medicals.
It’s 1 year/$25 mil, with medical insurance in the form of the second year. But if he has a strong season, he’s opting out and getting paid next offseason.
It’s a 1 year, $25M contract. He only takes next years option if he gets hurt and can’t pitch, or if he absolutely bombs this year, but it would most likely be a $20M option if that was the case.
In all fairness the guy was dogsh*t in 2023, so he’s got a sketchy track record and something in his medicals the Yankees didn’t like in July. Great contract for both sides. A year from now we’ll know the true winner.
@johncoltrane. He’s opting out. He waited too long. That’s the problem.
It isn’t waiting too long if no one is calling with offers.
@wade offers disappear when the roster is filled and teams pivot.
Guess Who’s Back….. Back Again…..
It’s relevant because Em’s from Detroit
Can he ever really be relevant again though?
Step 1….on to Bregman
Bregman is not signing with Detroit. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bregman has to pivot to a short(er) term deal himself. I don’t believe the original Houston 6 year offer is still on the table, nor do I believe he has another 6 year offer pending from another team for more money. This sounds like classic Boras-speak to me. Bregman is 31 years old, coming off his worst offensive season since his rookie year, but he somehow thinks he’s worth 7/$200M in this market?
The lack of acceptable offers to date is directly related to his last extension that bought out 2 free agency years. He got paid $100M over his last 5 seasons but it’s hurting him now since it extended him thru age 31 and he’s coming off a poor platform year. Had he bet on himself and gone through arbitration & became a free agent in 2023 at age 29, he would have received his $200-$250M contract. He’ll be lucky to get over $120M TCV if you ask me this time around.
Damnit Dorothy you need to believe in something! Tigers for Bregman or bust!
Right after I read a question and answer in the chat about the Tigers not making any big moves they made a big move…
Just because he got a ring with the Dodgers does not mean he should have got a huge deal. Sometimes a look in the mirror is what is needed.
This is a world where Taijuan Walker got $18 million per year in a deal signed two years ago. So this is not a huge deal. It’s the going rate.
He still pitched relatively good enough to land a pretty decent contract. 5 years 100 million was not out of the question when the off-season started but his market never played out and now he returns to Detroit.
His pitching talent might not be the issue.
There we go. Now send Tork and some prospects to Queens for Polar Bear.
Alonso is a free agent a can sign anywhere. No trade needed.
Oops. Mixed up my players. Sorry, the Pistons won and I drank a bottle of wine.
Polar Bear is suffering due to global warming, now he is more Koala Bear.
And he’s a free agent.
Interesting. Very uncommon for a player to sign with the team that traded him during the previous season.
@Meh Flaherty thrived with Tigers and their pitching coach. I agree it’s not very common, but in this situation it makes a ton of sense for both sides.
Yimi Garcia did it this year also.
@Meh,
I think that’s largely because the team that traded him away is just 1 of 30 options. The odds are always against a reunion.
Lots of bad teams trading away players. Usually still bad next year so aren’t signing expensive players.
“Global warming”…That’s so true. I can see the ice melting right from under Pete’s legs even as we speak. Pretty soon he won’t have anywhere left to sit.
Are there any koalas left or did they all get BBQ’d?
They do not have to send anything to the Mets. He is a free agent.
Guess you do not follow baseball. You can’t trade a free agent.
Hard to believe that’s all it took. C’mon Hoyer.
@Cubs He likely want signing anywhere else for this price. Working with Tigers pitching coach he thrived and his #s were bolstered. He lobbied for Tigers to sign to sign him.
Perhaps but a few more million even on the 2nd year may have brought him to chicago
They sign wherever they can make most $. Hoyer can do better.
Don’t let this fool you. Much like Bregman, Flaherty had several offers of more than 6 years and $300MM still in the table. It’s that he really, really, really wanted Detroit, according to the reliable John Heyman.
reliable John Heyman?
That’s funny.
I detect sarcasm.
Love it. Welcome back Jack!
Jack’s back. Opt-out?
Out on Bregman now?
This contract should not take them out of the running for Bregman.
But it will. I’m surprised Chris I cracked the purse open this far.
If it were daylight, the moths flying out of his wallet would have blocked out the sun!
Losing draft pick and Bregman not worth beating astros offer would be reason to be out.
Jack must have liked Detroit enough to go back. Good for Detroit for picking him back up, especially on such a deal.
Now for the Twins to do something (they won’t).
Detroit is a dump. Not hating, the suburbs are awesome but downtown is like a 3rd world country. I don’t think he liked Detroit as much as he liked the $$$$.
I don’t think you’ve been to downtown Detroit in a while. It’s nice. I know its out of my price range.
He was going wherever he could make most $. Love hate Detroit doesn’t matter.
@Dream I think he’d have taken less and quite possibly did signing with Det. Not for love of the city but to bolster #s and for for $ and a longer deal later on. So yes ultimately it’s about $.
You haven’t been to downtown Detroit lately, have you?
“You haven’t been to downtown Detroit lately, have you”
You can probably remove the “lately”. I doubt they’ve ever set foot in Detroit. Just another person moved to fear by too much media consumption.
I’ve heard downtown Detroit has really upped the ante especially around where the Lions play. Since the Lions have played better it’s brought folks and money to that part of town and the restaurants and shops are hopping. Isn’t there also a casino in downtown Detroit ??
There’s 3 casinos. Lions and Tigers play right next to each other. That portion of city was already rebuilt and has been vibrant for 20 years.
LCA where Wings and Pistons play was built in a somewhat desolate area between downtown and Midtown. That area is built up a ton and has expanded the safe walkable area quite a bit.
@Tigers3232 Thanks! Just curious because I enjoy casinos, but is there a specific reason 3 casinos are allowed in the city ?? I mean , it’s not Nevada or Atlantic City, and I thought if they are Native American operated they tend to be outside city limits on reservation land?
@Goetta You clearly have not visited Detroit since late 8ps or 90s. Downtown is thriving and the area of Downtown that is safe and has thriving businesses has exploded. Now the rest of Detroit proper leaves alot to be desired. That is nothing like Downtown tho and is similar to most other large US cities.
I was in Detroit last August for a wedding and stayed downtown. Had a great time there! I feel like a lot of these folks who make these “crime-ridden, homelessness-apocalypse” about major cities haven’t left their own neighborhoods in a decade.
As someone who hasn’t visited Detroit since the mid 90s, it’s good to hear the downtown is thriving.
I think you’ve watched RoboCop too many times bro.
And Beverly hills cops 1
And True Romance. I have watched that too many times.
This comment screams “I’ve never been to Detroit.”
Can you still buy an old Victorian for like $2k on the wrong side of town. I remember checking those out on realtor sites just for fun.
@Wade Those days are long passed. Even when they existed anything at $2K would’ve come with a huge past tax bill.
You seem lost, Boomer.
This isn’t Facebook.
It’s not a boomer thing. It’s people who spend the majority of their existences on socials.
Have you ever been to certain parts if Chicago?
He spoke openly throughout the offseason of loving the clubhouse environment, pitching coach, and being the 2 to Skubal’s 1. Players don’t have to love cities to like playing with a certain group of people.
Just saying compared to other major cities it’s a S hole. I’ve been there a bunch of times. Once for a final 4 like 10 years ago and they literally had banners draped over abandoned buildings so you couldn’t see it on TV. I know they improved it but just saying ‘he wanted to go back to Detroit’ is not a valid opinion. Dude was signing a contract in February. I’d sign with any city too. 1 year opt out tells you all you need to know. and he’s going to be like ‘peace D town.’ Plus I said the suburbs are nice and upstate is awesome. I love Michigan but don’t defend your armpit.
That Final Four was 2008….
Again Goetta you re speaking way out of school. Probably should stop compounding your ignorance here. And I believe it was draped over a specific ad on a building because a player had left. Cent remember which team or player, but it was visible from both Ford Field and Comerica Park.
Nah it was several buildings with broken windows. Plus old tiger stadium was still halfway torn down with 6ft of grass growing all over the lot it was built on. Just didn’t seem like an American city at the time.
nice.
That’s a good deal depending on how much money is in the first year.
Jack will get his ring on opening day. Tigers play the Dodgers on opening day.
Ha – you’re right! That will be a cool thing for all the Tigers to experience. Riley’s already chomping at the bit.
Schedule is very odd this season. Dodgers will have played the cubs 7 times already and yet only played one series against a divisional opponent by the middle of May.
@Zerb I think MLB is trying to backload division games. It makes for much more compelling games in Sept. When Tigers were making late run everyone was eyeing the few series against KC and MIN. I see LAD having season locked up by then, but still could have ramifications for home field and wild card for opponents.
Best deal of the off-season!
I think Sasaki for $5 mil is a better deal
2nd best deal of the offseason!
Cobb DFA’ed
All right Tigers fans, I’m happy for ya!!! Go Tigers. A true shot at #1 in the AL Central…!!!!
@Ignorant I think they still need at least one bat. I’m hoping for Bregman even if it takes 6 years.
From mid Aug on they played amazing baseball, I just don’t see that as sustainable over 162 games. Another veteran bat I feel would bolster that lineup and get them through the grind of a full MLB season.
Nice! I hate the opt out after year one though.
Other teams probably would have offered it if there was other teams. At least he has to earn a big pay year 2. Should be able to QO him if not mistaken.
Tatis for Harper = Return to Detroit?
Oh boy… another feather in the cap for Scott Boras.
CAA reps Flaherty
Yeah, I know….. i was just joking around. If it was Boras, it sure wouldn’t be something to write home about!
I have made that mistake before with players’ reps though, so I do appreciate the clarification.
I honestly thought Flaherty would get more, but seeing the first year is $25MM isn’t horrible.
“Just joking..if it was Boras”..If it was Scott Boras, we’d now be hearing from Scott Boras on the “state of the game” and how some teams apparently “don’t want to win” because they don’t sign all of his clients to inflated long term contracts.
Anytime the mercurial, ego driven Scott Boras is involved, he’ll be sure to tell us all about it, since the man never met a microphone he didn’t love.
Did you try hitting on Boras and he turned down your overtures??
Either it’s down the path of a scorned lover or you re just against the players due to anti union political zealot stance. Either way sad existence to harbor such resentment.
Guess Bregman gets to suck it now. Flaherty is a bigger upgrade to the rotation than Bregman would be over Vierling/Jung. Glad they didn’t wait on him. Drops Cobb to 4/5 starter now. That’s not bad. Skubal, Flaherty, Olsen, Mize, Cobb, with several young pitchers as depth. No need to rush Jobe now. Let him build innings at Toledo to start the year.
Jobe will be needed soon enough, when the super-fragile Cobb hits the IL with who knows what ailment.
Thank God! This is what I was hoping for as a Tigers fan. I’d love to get Bregman but I’ve always thought that the best way to significantly improve our chances for and in the playoffs was to sign another top-flight starter and Flaherty is about the best available. Great terms, too. Great price if he continues to pitch as he can, and even if he flops and doesn’t opt out, it’s just one more year of at least a decent starter. Very happy with this move.
Very good move here for Detroit! I hope he does well-he sure did last year, and if you’re successful in a certain place, stay there! Tigers may be very good this year. Go Tigers!
Good for Jack‼️
Meh for Jack.
Great for Tigers
Good for Jack would have been multiple multiple years 100m+
Now he has to hope to stay healthy. Opts out. Only to get hit with a QO offer. Could be great for Tigers next year as well. Almost can’t lose. Sign him cheap again. Get a draft pick. Or he should be highly motivated to rebound from poor or injured 2025. TJ or something could ruin things.
If it ain’t broke!
Great to see.
This signing makes up for Scott Harris not knowing Eduardo Rodriguez had a no trade clause a couple seasons ago.
Great move, going to be a fun season! Going to Lakeland in 6 weeks.
If he ends up staying healthy this year, he will opt out but it will still be a great one-year “prove it again” deal. Solid #2 in an all-of-the-sudden great rotation.
Skubal
Flaherty
Olsen
Cobb
Jobe
Rotation depth: Mize, Montero, Manning, Gipson-Long, Hurter, Madden
I beleive the Tigers and going to let Jobe open the season in Toledo and let him see some AAA hitters for April & most of May. They bring him up by Memorial Day
He’ll be up by about April 5th when Cobb goes down.
@Hank they are not paying Cobb $15M to pitch in Toledo. Sadly we ll be watching him pitch in a Tigers uniform.
Which I believe would give them an extra year of Jobe… fine by me.
Detroit has crazy good pitching depth. That right there might be why they end up #1 in the division at the end of September.
25m for one year unless he gets hurt. Is a good deal.
Cease’s market just went up.
Get crunked up!
Well there’s an answer to the question of “when has a player ever actually signed with a team that traded him?”
Rickey Henderson signed with the A’s after the ’93 season when he was traded by them to Toronto during the season
Rick Aguilera signed with the Twins after the ’95 season when he was traded by them to the Red Sox during the season
Mike Bordick went back to Baltimore after the ’00 season when he was traded to the Mets during the season
Happens more often than you think. That has to suck a little though right? For the team that traded for you during the season and you re-sign with your old team afterward. They get to keep the players/prospects the other team gave them and get you back…
Aroldis Chapman in 2016 off-season.
It also happened with Aroldis Chapman. He was traded to the Cubs and signed back on with the Yankees that December.
Man all your examples are at least 25 years old. Love it! Wish my memory was that good.
Jim Slaton was traded to Detroit for Ben Oglivie. At the end of the year, he signed back with Milwaukee as a FA.
That sucked. I liked Oglivie.
@Pads – Aroldys Chapman. Same scenario too in that he got traded (Cubs) and won WS ring, then resigned (Yankees).
In addition to the older examples cited below, this very offseason saw Yimi Garcia re-sign with Toronto after the Jays dealt him to Seattle at the deadline.
I’m curious why everybody says this “as cited below…” because as I read from top to bottom on my smart phone, the older entries are always “above” the newer entries. I scroll “down” as I read comments, so wouldn’t the older examples be “cited above” , not “cited below”??? I must be wrong in how I perceive this though, because everyone always says “as seen below,” and not the opposite. But it has never made intuitive sense to me.
Missed the chat by that much…..
Looks a bit less likely for a Bregman Tigers signing
At this point that seems largely on Bregman.
Great move Tigers! I only wish you could play again in Tigers Stadium!
Does it still exist ? And why do you wish that ? (Legitimate quest, not snark.)
As the great Yogi Berra once said: “it’s like deja-vu all over again”
Good deal for Tigers, potentially for Flaherty, too, depending on how much year 1 is.
Oh 25mil! Excellent for Jack, too!
Not surprised. Good for Detroit.
Doh!
And if they keep him for the whole year, they will QO him and get a draft pick.
If that’s all it took, then there are probably a couple dozen other teams that are smacking their foreheads right now. A one-year commitment at $25 million for a frontline starter is money well spent for a win-now club.
WHOA!!!!!!!!
(My verbal response after checking & finally seeing some Tigers activity)
I love it. Two years – front-loaded. Skub & Jack make a bad-ass 1-2 and they wanted to team up again.
This is great mojo heading into spring.
If you read it, it’s basically 1 yr $35M. $35M is guaranteed whether he opts out after ’25 or not!
That part is oddly worded. I think it only guarantees him $25M if he opts out, whereas if he doesn’t opt out, he gets the full $35M even if his 2025 is a bust and he doesn’t make enough starts.
Shows what a crapshoot it is to predict free agents. I remember scoffing at MLBTR’s prediction and thinking it was outrageous. I got that one right. But on the other hand, I assumed that Alonso would get around 5/$125 million and unless the Blue Jays swoop in (heh) and overpay, there is no way that is happening.
Congrats Tiger fans!!
Based on his contract, it appears that other teams had some concerns about his medicals.
Welcome to the party, Scott Harris. Love it, hopefully this will encourage Bregman to take the Tigers offer.
Very good deal. Tigers are making some creative mid budget moves this off season. At least it’s interesting and shows some kind of effort and a short term strategy that could benefit them in the long run.
Given his injury/effectiveness history, another platform season (with a significantly higher guarantee than last year) constitutes a good deal for both parties.
If it goes well – for a 2nd year in a row – he’ll opt out and make a killing next year, at a still-reasonably-young age of 30 yrs old.
They need to clear a roster spot… its gotta be Maeda, right?
Kreidler or Englert
Felt immanent.
How could this be?
Supposed Tigers fans on Mlbtraderumors have proclaimed Detroit to have the cheapest, bottom feeding ownership in all of MLB.
No, lately the winners of that fan award seem to be Pittsburg and Seattle.
It’s definitely Pittsburgh. Anyone that’s watched a game or followed for 5 minutes knows nutting limits any potential this team has.
Flaherty waited out for as long as he could for his hometown team to sign him, but alas, they moved on without him today when they were frolicking at the beach.
Maybe he shouldn’t have picked a fight with Manny Machado in the NLDS
Maybe you should stop watching the Dodgers frolicking around at the beach.
A few months ago, i was expecting 100m for flaherty, half hoping detroit would do it anyway. This looks like a better deal…
THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN! THE TIGERS SHOULDN’T PAY FOR ANY PLAYERS BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE ANY MONEY!
BOOM !!
So Sweeney and Therizon(?) were basically free… maybe not so lopsided after all although there will always be that ‘what if’ for both teams last year.
They were not free in that Detroit was without Flaherty for the last half of 2024 and the playoff run. The cost was that absence of Flaherty. If he was on the team all year, who knows how far in the postseason they could have gone?
Dodgers just keep thanking gut shots.
Curious what the Tigers get for him this trade deadline.
Hold your breath for Jack Flahery staying healthy. If he’s on top of his game and all the pitchers stay healthy, the Tigers have a good rotation on paper:
Skubal
Flahery
Olsen
Jobe
Cobb
The tigers are fools to give him that contract
Didn’t see this coming.
Finally something to be proud of Harris for, hopefully he plays great and signs long term with Skubal to build a perennial contender
There’s one person to blame for this one. His name is Buster Posey.
Looks like he had a February deadline on his mind and took what is basically a 1 year with an escape to 2 yr if it doesn’t go well. This might clear the logjam and get the remaining FA’s signed what they can