The Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off some big moves to ensure a World Series championship in 2024.
Before last season even began, they added Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and others to bolster the strongest roster in baseball. Then, at the midseason trade deadline, they pulled off arguably the best acquisition of any team by landing starting pitcher Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers in a three-player blockbuster.
Flaherty went on to post a 3.58 ERA in 10 regular-season starts for the Dodgers and then made five healthy postseason starts while many of the team’s other starters were sidelined by injury. Following that success, Flaherty has been projected to sign a “100+ million contract,” according to FanSided’s Robert Murray.
“In polling different executives and agents around baseball, the feeling I get is that it’s entirely possible that Jack Flaherty signs a contract worth over $100 million,” Murray added in a roundup of “bold predictions for the Winter Meetings.” “Flaherty is in position to sign the fourth largest contract for a free-agent starter this offseason behind Max Fried, Blake Snell and Corbin Burnes.”
Though Flaherty demonstrated some valuable durability in 2024, a nine-figure deal would be a significant win for the pitcher. Spotrac projects a three-year, $63 million deal for Flaherty. A contract in excess of $100 million would handily beat the deals that Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, and Jordan Montgomery, who was also coming off of a World Series championship, earned last offseason. However, both of those pitchers were older than Flaherty is now.
Any number of teams could be in the bidding for Flaherty, though a $100 million price tag might be tough for some to stomach. Murray expects it could price out the Dodgers, for instance.
“It’s unclear what team will give Flaherty that contract — it’s unlikely that the Dodgers would do that — but the right-hander is in a position to cash in this offseason,” Murray added. “After all, he was much improved with the Detroit Tigers, and continued that surge with the Dodgers and finished the season with a 3.17 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 28 starts.”
After granting a significant boost for the Dodgers in 2024, it seems Flaherty has earned himself a big contract in addition to a championship trophy. But he might not be there as the team looks to repeat in 2025.
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