Dodgers to Acquire Jack Flaherty in Blockbuster Trade With Tigers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are acquiring star right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty in a blockbuster trade with the Detroit Tigers, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Going back to Detroit is catcher/first baseman Thayron Liranzo and shortstop Trey Sweeney
Flaherty, 28, winds up being the best pitcher traded at this year’s deadline. He has a 2.95 ERA across 18 starts this season, and an incredible 133 strikeouts to just 19 walks.
The Dodgers didn’t have to part with any of their top prospects to land the best pitcher moved at the deadline. Flaherty signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Tigers this past offseason, and is set to hit free agency in a couple months.
Flaherty instantly solidifies the Dodgers’ rotation. Amid all the injuries, the Dodgers were able to remain afloat, and entered Tuesday with a 6.5 game lead over the San Diego Padres in the National League West.
Now, the Dodgers add Flaherty to a rotation that already got Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw back last week. Additionally, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to return before the end of the season.
Dodgers Trade Deadline Analysis
Andrew Friedman, Brandon Gomes and the Dodgers aced the 2024 trade deadline. The Dodgers filled all their needs, acquired the best starting pitcher moved, and didn’t have to part with any of their top prospects.
Flaherty comes to Los Angeles for significantly less than the Houston Astros gave up for Yusei Kikuchi and the Baltimore Orioles gave up for Trevor Rogers. While Rogers is under a few more years of team control, Kikuchi, like Flaherty, is on an expiring contract.
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Excellent work by Gomes and Friedman. Liranzo may be really good someday, but he won’t displace Will Smith and the Dodgers did not give up their top catching prospect Dalton Rushing, next year’s replacement for Barnes.
Flaherty is the best starting pitcher to be traded. The Dodgers won that contest. He could start playoff games this year and even if he is only a rental their need is this year. Next year they will add Ohtani, May, Gonsolin, maybe Kershaw, maybe Buehler to add to Glasnow, and Yamamoto. And they did not give up any of the 5 talented rookie starters Bobby Miler, Gavin Stone, River Ryan, Wrobleski, and Landon Knack. That’s 13 pitchers named in this paragraph, I believe.
Don’t forget, they will be going all in to sign Roki Sasaki next year as well.
I don’t get it. Explain to me what the upgrade is here between getting rid of James Paxton and acquiring Jack Flaherty. Paxton had troubles in early innings, true, but settled down after 1 or 2 innings and had speed and location working for him after that. He made all his scheduled starts and provided the Dodgers with an opportunity to win the games he pitched. Yes, he will be a free agent at year’s end, but so will Flaherty, and Flaherty has injury potential that Paxton doesn’t have. It’s why the Yankees passed on him. And by keeping Paxton, the Dodgers hold on to the prospects they sent and can use them for a different trade if need be. With Paxton’s stuff, albeit, after getting through the first couple of innings, he seemed like a reliable, can count on pitcher. Flaherty? Not so sure. Again, what’s the upgrade here?
Tell me how getting rid of Paxton and acquiring Flaherty is an upgrade?