Starting pitcher Jack Flaherty is set to return to the Detroit Tigers after spending the latter half of the 2024 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Flaherty has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $35 million contract with the Tigers, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The terms of the deal stipulate that he will receive $25 million in the first year, with the option to opt out after this season. The guaranteed salary for the 2026 season is $10 million, which can escalate to $20 million should he start at least 15 games in 2025.

Flaherty experienced notable success during his previous tenure with the Tigers, which has contributed to the excitement surrounding his return. In a show of camaraderie, Tarik Skubal, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, welcomed Flaherty back to Detroit on social media.

This marks the fifth team change for Flaherty in just three years. He transitioned from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Baltimore Orioles during the 2023 trade deadline, signed with the Tigers last offseason, and was then traded to the Dodgers at the 2024 deadline. Throughout the past season, Flaherty recorded a combined 13-7 record, a 3.17 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and 194 strikeouts while playing for both the Tigers and Dodgers. His effective performance, including a 2.95 ERA in 18 starts with Detroit, made him a highly sought-after player as the trade deadline approached. He concluded the season with a 6-2 record in Los Angeles and contributed to the Dodgers' World Series victory over the New York Yankees, despite a playoff record of 1-2. Flaherty, who began his Major League career with the Cardinals in 2017, emerged as a vital player in their rotation, having been named St. Louis' Opening Day starter in both 2020 and 2021. In three of his six-plus seasons with the Cardinals, he achieved a sub-3.35 ERA. In joining the Tigers, Flaherty adds strength to a rotation that already features Skubal and Reese Olson, positioning the team for a potential postseason push in 2025.