Former St. Louis Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty has finally landed with a team after enduring what likely felt like an endless wait in free agency. The unpredictable pitcher stayed on the market longer than anticipated before securing a deal on Feb. 2.
Flaherty, who celebrated a World Series victory with his hometown Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, returned to the Detroit Tigers on a two-year, $35 million contract, which includes an opt-out after his first season.
Flaherty experienced a resurgence in 2024, posting a 3.17 ERA over 162 innings while splitting time between the Tigers and Dodgers. Often hampered by injuries during his Cardinals tenure, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles at the 2023 deadline in exchange for three prospects. Following a rough stint in Baltimore, he signed with the Tigers, who later dealt him to the Dodgers for the final stretch of the 2024 season.
Flaherty’s new contract may not offer the substantial payday or long-term stability he had envisioned, and it falls short compared to other free-agent pitchers of similar caliber in 2025. Sean Manaea and Nathan Eovaldi each secured three-year, $75 million deals with the New York Mets and Texas Rangers, respectively, while Yusei Kikuchi landed a three-year, $63 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
Flaherty’s age appears to work in his favor, as he was the youngest of the 15 starting pitchers featured on The Athletic’s “Big Board” of free agents at the start of the offseason. However, teams likely wanted to see another full season of durability before committing to him. FanGraphs speculated that his relatively unremarkable fastball also contributed to the limited interest he received in free agency.
Flaherty’s outspoken personality and social media presence didn’t always sit well with Cardinals fans, and his extended injury history added to their frustration—especially given the superstar potential he showcased during the second half of 2019.
If Flaherty can shed the “injury-prone” label and put together another strong season in Detroit, his contract could prove to be a steal, and the rising Tigers might consider a long-term commitment. In St. Louis, however, he will always be seen as a case of unfulfilled potential—what could have been if he had stayed healthy.