Jack Flaherty had a forgettable start this evening, allowing eight runs without escaping the third inning at Tampa Bay. He’s likely to take a loss as a result, but he did check off a notable contractual milestone.
This was Flaherty’s 15th start of the season. His two-year free agent deal only guaranteed $10MM for the 2026 campaign, but that escalated by another $10MM once he reached 15 starts this year. Flaherty can opt out after this season, but he’ll now officially be weighing a $20MM call once the winter arrives.
It may wind up being immaterial. Flaherty certainly expected to opt out when he signed a two-year, $35MM guarantee. He was reportedly seeking a five-year deal early in the offseason, presumably one that’d get him to nine figures. The market didn’t materialize, leading to a modified pillow contract. He’s making $25MM this season and hoped for another swing at the long-term deal when he hit free agency at age 30.
That’s still the goal. Flaherty’s second season in Detroit has been inconsistent. He took a 4.03 earned run average into tonight’s start. It’s pushing 5.00 after that disastrous outing. Flaherty has been hit hard in consecutive appearances. He gave up seven runs to Cincinnati across 4 2/3 innings last time out. The two blow-ups have followed his best stretch of the year. Flaherty went six innings in each of his three starts between May 27 and June 8. He allowed one combined run while recording 21 strikeouts.
Flaherty has punched out more than 28% of opposing hitters. That’s in line with last season’s near-30% rate. He has had escalating home run issues over the past couple years, though. The option decision isn’t the focus anytime soon, but it’ll be a subplot of his second half. Flaherty has never received a qualifying offer, so the Tigers would be able to QO him if he opts out.
Still been a very good starter even when he has a rough outing. Lots of his starts have been great. A bargain at this price.
$25 million for this year and so far has produced a 4.03 ERA, 98 ERA+, and a FIP of 4.27.
His results to this point look like that of a #4 or maybe a good #5.
I wouldn’t call that a bargain. A more accurate descriptor might be ‘overpay’.
Your estimation of what constitutes a 4 or 5 starter varies widely from reality. Among IP qualified starters Flaherty’s ERA ranks 46th. With 30 teams the math tells a far different story.
So he’s an innings eater. Got it.
How many starters are qualified?
What does that stat have to do whether he’s a 4 or 5? That’s exactly what I want my number 4. No way he tops $20 M next year. Solid piece in these days when you need 8 or 9 starters but he’s looking at 1 year deals from here on
He still can improve those numbers but it’s more about “if not him, who?” Pitching has escalated & with the impending lock out, he might want to just sit tight another year in Detroit.
The lockout is coming after the 2026 season. Everybody and their momma will be looking to lock contracts through that period. JF jncluded.
He has had a 1.78 ERA for the month prior to his last 2 starts
Just wait for Fetters to work his magic. This will look like the best deal in sports. Trust in Fetters and Harris.
You realize that last year was a career year for him, right? It was above his norm.
Walk years end up being career years quite often.
LMFAO 😂!
Thank you Jack for helping win the Dodgers a world series. Would love to see a tigers – dodgers series.
Would love to see the tigers beat the empire
Tigers are what 0-3 this year against the Dodgers?
Hinch lost those games, not the team.
It won’t be because of Flaherty, it’ll be in spite of him….
Tigers better get someone stable at the trade deadline….
Someone to slot behind Skubal in the #2 would be great golliwed by Mize, Flaherty and Olson. But…even if they don’t do that and just ho get someone like Heaney that is still a pretty strong rotation. Flaherty has been up and down this year but he very recently had an ERA in the 3.00’s and he’s still whiffing people. He needs to clean up the HRs and walks. Every pitcher has bad games and he us streaky.
I don’t think the Dodgers are as good this year… still very good but no guarantee
The Dodgers have the best record in the NL with 90 percent of their rotation on the DL.
They haven’t even played their best baseball yet.
That changedcquicker than I thought… I still think it’s hard to top last year’s team
Dodgers weren’t all that great last year either. They were about to go out in the LDS yet again before going on that heater. But everyone forgets after the fact….
98 wins wasn’t all that great? You set a ridiculous bar fella
Dodgers set the bar….
And I give Roberts major props. Cuz his team was bout to do another one-and-done. Those speeches. Especially the one on the mound with Treinen….
I don’t think any team was really that good last year except the Dodgers, as they were the best out of all of them and won the crapshoot.
Not that splits will tell the whole story but he is proven to be a better second half pitcher in his career. I expect him to return to overqualified 3 starter production to decent 2 starter status. Not that it helps in the meantime because early-ish as it may be, these scuffed starts still count. That being said, somewhere in his 162 game avg of 12 wins 10 losses with a 3.67 ERA seems likely in my opinion. Thats not bad per se, but is it worth 25 mil? Normally it would be a resounding no from me, but in this day and age of constant injured pitchers, (to be clear I don’t actually know anything) what do I know?
It would be in his interest to have better outings if he wants to opt out and get that coveted five-year deal he’s looking to get…
It’s in every pitchers interest…
It would be in my best interest to buy a winning lottery ticket.
No one is giving him a 5 year deal lol.
Yeah, if he was barely able to get a 2-year deal after actually pitching well last season, he’d have to really turn things back around in the second half to opt out for even another 2-year deal.
He’s gonna be taking that 20 million and hoping for a better year next year barring a second run stretch of that of his 2019 season. That’s the only way he gets there
QO going to be $22M next year? It would be interesting if he opts out, they make a qualifying offer and he accepted.
Dude needs to end the season with much better numbers to have those options.
Flahrety careeer had been inconstant. One good 6ip one run game, the next coughing up 7 runs by the 3rd inning
I told Anthony and Steve that Flaherty would not get what they expected because he spoke up against Tony Clark. They removed him from his position in the union because of it.
Then baseball teams around the league blackballed him just like they’ve done plenty of times to other people, including Trevor and Yasiel.
Steven and Anthony acted like I was wrong. Time has only proven me right and made them look like fools again.
That’s something they’re used to because they’re always wrong. They even admit that there takes are lukewarm. Even the writers on FanGraphs are better than these losers.
What are you talking about
You must not listen to their podcast it’s honestly the best thing about MLB trade rumors
Keep being ignorant it’s a good look on you
He is talking about nutty conspiracy theories that he made up in his head, just like his username
Are you saying Flaherty didn’t get a long term contract from an owner because he spoke against the union head? Further that the owners blackballed Flaherty in some related way? Now there’s a conspiracy theory!
Given that poster’s name, I am not surprised.
C-YA !
Tiger pitching is starting to crumble. Need to get Olson back ASAP. Please, please, please can Alex Cobb contribute something…anything? The relief corp is now into 3rd and 4th tier pitchers after the top 3.
Kerry Carpenter has gone cold. When will Meadows perk up.
Yeah the Tigers are still way up in the Central and don’t look to be pushed by Cleveland, KC or Minny. Still, they’re scuffing along at .500 for the last month or so and all of a sudden are giving up tons of runs.
Post season? Sure. A WS? Looks very…very… iffy these days.
And Montero one of their top pitchers over rhe last month or two was sent down again. The bullpen has really been struggling lately which is usually a strength. But still the top team in mlb.
Sending Montero down is more a function of needing a fresh arm than anything he did.
I think we can pretty much forget about Cobb at this point. He already wasn’t able to field his position and now he hurt his other hip. Urquidy probably has a better chance of contributing this season.
He’s now 5-8 with a 4.83 ERA
$25 million this year
$20 million next year.
For consistent inconsistency.
Harris should be shopping for SP arms and dealing from the Tigers highly regarded farm system.
Hurter picking up right where Tiger pitchers left off last night. Already 4-0 Rays with only 2 outs in the bottom of the 1st.
After Skubal, Tiger pitching is wearing out.
Pitching chaos is not working this year. Maybe time to shelve this “theory”.
Let Gipson-Long and Montero start…like real starting pitchers.
As a Tigers fan I won’t be disappointed if Skubal walks after next year or if we trade him at next year’s deadline if we’re not contending. But if he’s not extended I want the consolation prize to be some major upgrades in all facets. I’m extremely happy and proud of these guys but we’re not built for the playoffs with this current team. Stop tinkering with the kids and bring in some big boys.
Why would you not be disappointed if Skubal walks after next year? He’s literally the best pitcher on the planet…
The years and money it will take will be extraordinary. Prop 10 yr 400 mill. Illitch for whatever reason does not like to spend money on his baseball team. I also don’t like giving that much money to someone who plays every five days. Love Skubs but not for that much. I’d rather Illitch use that amount on several players. We need a third basemen. A legit closer. SP.
Plus keep in mind that everything you’ve seen from Skubs up to this point has been while making 10 mill or less his entire Tiger career. It would be interesting to see what we could get back in a trade next year if it came to it. We got a good farm, would prefer players already established.
Nice bounceback by the Tigs today. Tampa is a lot better than I realized.