With the Braves in the market for a starting pitcher, Jack Flaherty was a name several MLB pundits connected to Atlanta. Unfortunately, that dream is now dead, with the 29-year-old right-hander inking a two-year, $35 million deal to return to the Detroit Tigers, where he began last season before being traded to the Dodgers and helping Los Angeles to the World Series.
In this market, $35 million over two years for a pitcher like Flaherty is an incredible bargain. He was elite last season, recording a 3.17 ERA, 1.068 WHIP, and 10.8 K/9 over 28 starts. A plethora of other arms with worse numbers and stuff have signed much more lucrative contracts this offseason.
However, with Jack Flaherty, there will always be concerns around his injury history. Following a 4th place finish in the NL Cy Young award race in 2019, he managed to make just 32 starts over the next three seasons combined. Flaherty then posted a less-than-stellar 4.99 ERA in 2023 before looking much more like the guy he was when he was a fresh-faced 23-year-old this past season.
For the most part, this feels like a contract that would be right up Alex Anthopoulos’ alley. He loves the short-term gambles on high upside pitchers, especially ones with experience in the postseason like Flaherty. However, this ultimately could have come down to one thing.
The Braves don’t do opt-outs. They never have under Alex Anthopoulos, and it doesn’t feel like that’s ever going to change. Flaherty’s contract will pay him $25 million in 2025, with a player opt-out for the 2026 season. If he opts in, which would only happen if he has a miserable season or gets injured, the Tigers will owe him $10 million next year and possibly even $20 million if he makes 15 starts this season.
Essentially, it’s a one-year, $25 million contract for Jack Flaherty, with some insurance in case he gets injured again. That’s a risk the Tigers were willing to take on a pitcher who’s spent time in their organization and had a lot of success. But player opt-outs are bad business; the Braves are right not to budge in scenarios that require them.
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Photographer: John Cordes/Icon Sportswire
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