The Detroit Tigers are having one of the best seasons in franchise history. They are firmly in the American League playoff picture and will fight for a Pennant this October.
This means there will be added pressure on some players to perform for their next contract. Jack Flaherty is one of those players. After helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win the 2024 World Series, Flaherty signed a two-year, $35 million deal with the Tigers, but he has a player option following this season.
Jack Flaherty expected to opt out of current deal
ESPN's Jeff Passan recently ran a piece with early free agency intel, and included Jack Flaherty as an opt-out player:
"While Flaherty's 4.74 ERA is unsightly, he has struck out 169 in 142.1 innings, enough for him to consider turning down $20 million and seeking a greater guarantee in free agency."
Strikeouts have never been Flaherty's issue over his career. He has 10.7 K/9 this season, which could bode well in the Tigers' playoff run if they opt to use him in a meaningful role.
Flaherty's WHIP is 1.286, which signals that he allows a lot of baserunner traffic across his outings, and that may be a strong red flag for other MLB organizations.
He is in a similar scenario as last season, when he was traded to the Dodgers. Albeit he was having a much better part of the regular season with the Tigers, he was able to perform really well in the postseason and earned himself a high-AAV contract.
The ball will be in the Tigers' court for this free agent decision. Flaherty would likely return if the price is right, considering he's comfortable with the organization, but the question is will they with how inconsistent he has been this season.