Tigers rumors: Detroit willing to listen to offers for Jack Flaherty

You had to know this was coming. Despite the Tigers hanging out just a few games out of a wild card spot, a few players' names are going to come up again and again for a team more likely to sell at the trade deadline than to buy. Jack Flaherty is one of those players.

Tuesday, Jim Bowden of The Athletic wrote that Flaherty is among the starting pitchers on the market most likely traded and the Tigers will listen to offers for him (sub req) (via the Freep). Interestingly enough, the Tigers do not currently plan to listen to offers for Tarik Skubal, though on has to think he is not untouchable if the right deal were to come along.

It makes sense for the Tigers to listen to offers for Jack Flaherty

The Tigers are in a position where, in a vacuum, they could probably go either way this trade deadline. They've had some uphill struggles, yet remain close enough to the wild card hunt that the playoffs shouldn't be considered an impossible vision to have. They have a strong farm they could dip into if need be and a Cy Young favorite at the top of the rotation.

That said, the roster has a few holes, notably a weak-hitting lineup, as well as a bullpen that has slipped since its strong start to the year. Add in the fact that Flaherty is both likely to be a hot commodity and is only in Detroit on a one-year contract, and you can see why an argument for getting what you can and setting your aims on being better

Flaherty carries a 3.22 ERA through 12 starts for the Tigers with 94 strikeouts in 72-2/3 innings. He has a WHIP of 0.96.

His record of 3-4 is more proof of the Tigers' struggles beyond him than any indication of struggles on his part, and an ERA across his last seven games of 2.08 is proof.

That said, Pitcher List says his start is "not legit," giving more reason to trade him.

Andrew Krutz writes, "I’m not sure there are many pitchers who have a greater difference in Zone% between fastball and breaking pitches. ... His overall velocity and stuff have remained the same. I don’t believe his K%-BB% or other excellent outcomes have been warranted."

Flaherty is owed the remainder of a one-year, $14 million deal.