Padres Among Top Landing Spots for Dodgers Free Agent: Report
The San Diego Padres could reportedly be a landing spot for Los Angeles Dodgers free agent pitcher Jack Flaherty.
MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported that while he’d be “surprised” if Flaherty went to the Dodgers’ NL West rival given the heated postseason series, he also knows there’s a lot of respect between the two sides.
More news: Yankees Interested in Both Dodgers Free Agent Starting Pitchers
“I’d be a little surprised if [Flaherty] crosses that rubicon in that NL West rivalry [between the Dodgers and Padres], given how intense things got,” Morosi said. “But the admiration that Mike Shildt has for Jack Flaherty did not dissipate. As intense as things got in the playoffs, there is still that respect.”
Flaherty was involved in a heated exchange with the Padres in Game 2 of the National League Division Series when he and Manny Machado exchanged words after Flaherty struck him out in the sixth inning. Then, Machado appeared to throw a ball at the Dodgers dugout toward manager Dave Roberts that caused Flaherty to continue to go at it with Machado.
In the end, the Dodgers went on to win the series and the tension appeared to calm down. Now, Flaherty could wind up on a Padres team in need of starting pitching with Joe Musgrove expected to miss all of 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Morosi added another SoCal team into the mix, too.
“Nor can we eliminate another SoCal team, the Angels, who are known to be involved for starting pitching as well,” Morosi added.
The Angels did just add Yusei Kikuchi on a three-year, $63 million deal. However, they could still look to add another top-end starter to a team in desperate need of pitching help.
Of course, the incumbent Dodgers still appear to be in the mix. The Dodgers are targeting one of the top starting pitchers on the market in Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, or Blake Snell. However, if they strike out on those guys, Flaherty would be a solid fallback option.
Flaherty had a bounce back season in 2024, going 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA in 18 starts with the Detroit Tigers, before being traded to the Dodgers at the deadline, and going 6-2 with a 3.58 ERA across 10 starts.
More news: Dodgers Have Made Contract Offer to Juan Soto in Free Agency
Photo Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images