The Detroit Tigers have signed Flaherty to a two-year, $35 million contract with an opt-out clause after the 2025 season, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the agreement. The deal is pending a physical exam.
Flaherty will earn $25 million in 2025.
His salary for 2026 — if he opts in — is worth $10 million, but the 2026 salary can increase to $20 million if Flaherty makes 15 starts. Therefore, the contract can be worth up to $45 million over two seasons.
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Here is the Tigers’ projected five-man starting rotation for 2025 Opening Day: Flaherty, left-hander Tarik Skubal (the reigning American Cy Young Award winner), right-hander Reese Olson, right-hander Alex Cobb and right-hander Jackson Jobe. There are 10 days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Lakeland, Florida.
Flaherty is the clear-cut No. 2 starter.
‘I love Jack,’ Skubal said Jan. 25 on the ‘Foul Territory’ show after accepting his Cy Young. ‘He’s a hell of a talent. If there’s a guy I want on the mound that’s not me on our team, I want him on the mound. … He has the respect of the guys in that clubhouse. I’d love to have him back.’
Flaherty, 29, posted a 3.17 ERA with 38 walks and 194 strikeouts across 162 innings in 28 starts in the 2024 season with the Tigers (18 starts) and Los Angeles Dodgers (10 starts). With the Tigers, pitching coach Chris Fetter and assistant pitching coach Robin Lund helped Flaherty make adjustments to his pitch mix and the way his body moves, which led to his best performance since 2019.
The Tigers traded Flaherty to the Dodgers at the 2024 trade deadline in exchange for two prospects: catcher Thayron Liranzo and shortstop Trey Sweeney.
Within the past 14 months, Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris has signed Flaherty to a one-year, $14 million contract (in December 2023), traded Flaherty to the Dodgers for two prospects (in July 2024) and signed Flaherty to a two-year, $35 million contract (in February 2025).
‘We love Jack,’ Harris said Nov. 5. ‘I’ve said it a million times. He’s a freakishly gifted athlete who has an intense work ethic and just demonstrated his adjustability. … Personally, I really enjoyed getting to work with Jack.’
Flaherty expressed interest in a reunion before signing with the Tigers.
‘I wanted to stay in Detroit,’ Flaherty said Jan. 23 on the ‘Foul Territory’ show, discussing his free-agent market. ‘We had conversations. I loved it there. I thought the combo of me and Skub was incredible. … We’ve been talking to them and talking to other teams. It would be fun to go back there.’
