After a deafeningly silent offseason in the Motor City, the Detroit Tigers finally improved their roster in a big way Sunday with the signing of Jack Flaherty to a two-year, $35 million contract.
The right-hander gives the Tigers' starting rotation a major boost heading into the 2025 season. Last year, Flaherty had a 3.17 ERA with 38 walks and 194 strikeouts across 162 innings in 28 starts, including a 2.95 ERA with 19 walks and 133 strikeouts across 106 2/3 innings in 18 starts for the Tigers.
Flaherty returns to Detroit fresh off a World Series championship with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he stabilized an injury-depleted rotation at the 2024 trade deadline. He can now provide similar stability to a Tigers rotation that suddenly looks a whole lot stronger with him in it.
Projecting Tigers' rotation, payroll after Jack Flaherty signing
With the signing of Flaherty, the Tigers' starting rotation is looking fully formed. Behind Flaherty and 2024 American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, Detroit has Reese Olson, free agent signing Alex Cobb and top prospect (and possible AL Rookie of the Year candidate) Jackson Jobe rounding out the group. As it stands, Skubal is the only southpaw in the rotation, but the Tigers have a trio of lefties in their bullpen in Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter and Sean Guenther.
The Flaherty signing also puts some of Detroit's fringe starters on the outside looking in, including right-handers Casey Mize, Keider Montero, Kenta Maeda and Matt Manning. Presumably, all four will have an opportunity to compete for a spot in the rotation at spring training, especially since Jobe is still not a lock after making his MLB debut late last season. They can also give the Tigers ample depth in their bullpen to fill bulk relief roles and/or transition into starting roles in case of injury (looking at you, Alex Cobb).
As far as the financial impact of the Flaherty signing, he will earn $25 million in 2025, after which he can opt out of the contract. His guaranteed salary for 2026 is $10 million, and it can go as high as $20 million if he starts 15 games this season.
The $25 million Flaherty is guaranteed in 2025 puts the Tigers' total team payroll for the season at $128,353,333. Mind you, that's still nowhere close to the $241 million Competitive Balance Tax threshold, but it moves Detroit from the bottom-third in the league up to 17th in team payroll. Flaherty's contract helps the Tigers leapfrog four teams in the league payroll rankings, including AL Central rivals in Kansas City and Minnesota.
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