Stunning Betrayal: Dodgers $115 Million Superstar Predicted to Abandon LA for Orioles
How will the Los Angeles Dodgers handle the remainder of free agency with regards to starting pitching?
One might think there’s no more need for the Dodgers to add starters, after signing Blake Snell to join a star-laden rotation with Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow. But there are still some things up in the air.
For one, the Dodgers reportedly plan to use a six-man rotation, which could necessitate one more signing even if everyone is at full strength. For two, the Dodgers still have a pair of stars from the World Series roster available in free agency that they could choose to bring back.
Jack Flaherty, the Southern California native who the Dodgers acquired at the trade deadline, expects to make a lucrative payday this winter. Is there any chance that payday will come from his hometown team?
The odds aren’t looking great in that regard. On Thursday, Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report projected the Baltimore Orioles as the “best fit” for Flaherty, who could command a five-year contract worth $115 million, per MLB Trade Rumors.
“The O’s still need a starter even after adding Japanese righty Tomoyuki Sugano on a one-year deal. And even if Flaherty isn’t on Corbin Burnes’ level, he’s the best possible replacement for the 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner within Baltimore’s likely price range,” Rymer said.
“Signing with Baltimore could otherwise help with the reverse splits that Flaherty had in 2024, wherein righties had a .730 OPS and 14 homers off him. Even with new left field dimensions, Oriole Park at Camden Yards still figures to favor lefties over righties.”
Flaherty, 29, had a 3.17 ERA in 28 starts during the regular season, punching out 194 batters in only 162 innings. And as much as the Dodgers would love to add another pitcher like that to their rotation, would they really pay over $20 million a year for a number-five starter?
Though Flaherty already had one unsuccessful stint with the Orioles after the 2023 trade deadline, his 2024 season looked far more promising than anything he’d shown in the previous half-decade. He’s got a good shot to continue his production, and that production is desperately needed in Baltimore.
