Offseason Bombshell: Dodgers Ace Could Sign With…
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series in 2024 but could lose some key players in free agency. Postseason star Jack Flaherty is a free agent and he could be on his way to signing a big deal.
While outlining free agents, ESPN’s Jeff Passan listed Flaherty in a tier he described as “nine-figure arms,” and noted that the New York Yankees could be interested in him.
“Jack Flaherty, right-handed starter: There’s a chance Flaherty doesn’t reach $100 million, but his doing so is enough of a possibility to warrant his inclusion in this tier. He threw 162 innings in 2024, the most he had in five years, and booked a 5-to-1 strikeout-walk ratio,” wrote Passan. “If the Washington Nationals decide to spend on an anchor for their rotation, Flaherty could make sense. And the Yankees — who killed a deal for Flaherty at the trade deadline out of concerns about his back — could be in again.”
Flaherty was acquired by the Dodgers at the trade deadline. Among the other teams trying to add him were the Yankees. Obviously, that did not happen and Flaherty was a big piece of the Dodgers World Series title. However, the Dodgers may not be willing to give him a huge deal with Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw all set to return in 2025.
Flaherty served as a key player while the Dodgers had starters injured. Spotrac projects him to sign a three-year, $60 million deal this winter. Even that projection may be more than the Dodgers want to pay him. The Yankees could use an arm like Flaherty. It wouldn’t be the first time a player joined the team they beat in the Fall Classic. Jordan Montgomery did the same last offseason, going from the Texas Rangers to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
