St. Louis Cardinals ace has found a home after what must have felt like a lifetime in free agency. The erratic pitcher was on the market for longer than many expected before finalizing a contract on February 2.
Flaherty, who won the World Series with his hometown Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, returned to the Detroit Tigers on a two-year, $35 million contract with an opt-out following the first season.
Flaherty had a resurgent season in 2024, pitching to a 3.17 ERA in 162 innings for the Tigers and Dodgers. Flaherty was rarely in full health during his time with the Cardinals and was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for three prospects at the 2023 deadline. After struggling in Baltimore, he signed with the Tigers and was dealt to the Dodgers for the 2024 stretch run.
The new contract may not bring the enormous payday or long-term security that Flaherty had hoped for, and it pales in contrast to other free agent pitchers of his caliber in 2025. Sean Manaea and Nathan Eovaldi signed three-year, $75 million contracts with the New York Mets and Texas Rangers, respectively, while Yusei Kikuchi agreed to a three-year, $63 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels.
Flaherty appears to have an advantage in terms of age, as he is the youngest of the 15 starting pitchers listed on The Athletic’s “Big Board” of free agents at the start of the offseason. However, before fully investing in the right-hander, teams were likely to wait for another healthy season. According to FanGraphs, Flaherty’s somewhat ordinary fastball was another reason for his lack of demand in free agency.
Flaherty’s outspoken personality and social media comments did not always sit well with Cardinals fans, and his extensive injury history irritated many who followed the team, especially given the superstar potential he demonstrated in the second half of 2019.
If Flaherty can overcome his “injury prone” reputation and perform another solid season in Detroit, his contract will appear to be a steal, and the Tigers may be prepared to sign him long-term. In St. Louis, Flaherty will always be remembered as an example of what may have been had he remained totally healthy.
