Flaherty: 'I never want to leave' Los Angeles
The 2024 World Series was a dream come true for Flaherty, who won a championship with the team he rooted for while growing up near Los Angeles. Now a free agent, Flaherty will be able to choose where he wants to continue his career. Maybe it will continue with him staying close to home.
"I love this city. I never want to leave," Flaherty said during the Dodgers' championship parade on Friday.
Acquired at the Trade Deadline after posting a 2.95 ERA over 106 2/3 innings with the Tigers, Flaherty pitched to a 3.58 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 55 2/3 frames during the regular season for the Dodgers. His postseason was a roller coaster -- two stellar starts mixed in with three others in which he allowed at least four earned runs -- but the 29-year-old will be one of the most sought-after starters on the open market this winter.
The Dodgers are seen as a good fit for Flaherty. We'll see if he remains with his hometown team.
Flaherty reached free agency for the first time in his career last offseason on the heels of a lackluster walk year that saw him post a 4.99 ERA with a 1.58 WHIP over 144 1/3 innings between the Cardinals and Orioles. He ultimately settled for a one-year, $14 million deal with the Tigers.
One year later, things couldn’t be more different. Flaherty put together an outstanding rebound campaign in 2024, finishing the regular season with a 3.17 ERA and a 5.11 K/BB ratio (194 strikeouts, 38 walks) over 162 innings for the Tigers and Dodgers, who acquired him at the Trade Deadline.
Flaherty went on to earn a World Series ring with Los Angeles, and though he had some hiccups in the playoffs en route to a 7.36 ERA over five starts, he could be poised to cash in on the open market this offseason.
The 29-year-old righty is one of the top arms in this year's free-agent class, with MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand ranking him ninth overall -- fourth among pitchers behind Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell and Max Fried -- on his list of the top free agents.