After finishing the 2024 season with a magical 30-11 run to make the postseason and besting the Astros in the Wild Card Series to advance to the ALDS, many expected the upstart Tigers to be extremely active on the free agent market heading into 2025.
So far, the ultimate returns have been somewhat underwhelming. The Tigers did bolster their rotation early in the process by signing veteran right-hander Alex Cobb to a one-year, $15 million deal. They also made an intriguing addition to their offense by inking second baseman Gleyber Torres to a one-year, $15 million pact as well.
Last week they bolstered their bullpen by adding right-hander Tommy Kahnle on a one-year, $7.75 million contract. He’ll join an already formidable group of arms for A.J. Hinch to deploy in high leverage situations.
While the three moves made the team incrementally better, they weren’t the types of major splashes that long-suffering Tigers’ fans were hoping for heading into 2025.
Fortunately, things took a turn for the better late Sunday night when right-hander Jack Flaherty began posting a series of cryptic Detroit and Tigers’ related images on social media:
Ultimately, details of the agreement trickled out slowly afterwards, with Flaherty signing a two-year, $35 million contract to rejoin the Tigers. He’ll earn $25 million in 2025 and will have an opt-out after the first season if he chooses to exercise it. The $10 million option that he has for the 2026 season grows to $20 million if Flaherty makes at least 15 starts for the Tigers in 2025.
On the surface, it seems like a good deal for both Flaherty and the Tigers. Flaherty gets a front-loaded deal that will pay him as one of the top starting pitchers in all of baseball in 2025 and he’ll get a chance to make another $20 million in 2026 or hit the open market once more if he so chooses. The Tigers bolster their rotation with the top arm that was remaining on the open market – and one that’s already familiar with their culture and their coaching staff. If Flaherty ultimately decides to test the market again in 2026, they’ll also receive draft pick compensation if they offer him a qualifying offer.
What can we expect from Jack Flaherty?
Great question, I’m glad you asked. The Tigers are definitely hoping that it’s more of the same.
Coming off of a disappointing 2023 season, Flaherty bet on himself by signing a one-year, $14 million deal with the Tigers heading into 2024. Tigers’ pitching coach Chris Fetter and his…