Jack Flaherty RHP who many analysts and fans thought would make a nice addition to the Giants starting rotation signed with the Tigers, the team he started the 2024 season with, for 2 years/$35 M. The contract is heavily frontloaded with $25 M coming in 2025 and just $10 M guaranteed for 2026. It does contain and opt-out after the first season and the 2026 salary escalates to $20 M if he makes at least 15 starts in 2025.
Because of the way the contract is frontloaded, it is a little less onerous than most opt-out contracts. Best case scenario for the Tigers is he pitches like an ace again, and it ends up being a 1 years contract for $25 M or they could even trade him at the deadline again and get even more young talent in return. Worst case scenario is he is a complete bust and/or gets hurt and he comes back for $10 M next season. Not so great would be if he pitches exactly 15 games and they have to pay $20 M in 2026 for a player you would not ordinarily offer that much for.
You may be thinking that in spite of the opt-out, this isn't such a terrible deal from a team perspective and why didn't the Giants sign him. Well, a week ago Flaherty was on a podcast where he said he loved pitching for the Tigers, didn't want to be traded at the deadline and would love to go back so most likely he would not have take this deal from the Giants even if Buster Posey relented on his reported vow to just say no to opt-outs.
The contract layout is strange. He is very injury prone so $25 million for the first year is a lot and then you risk him opting-in for the second year. I think it will be better for the Giants to roll with the young pitching.
ReplyDeleteGood for him, returning to his original organization … with his injury history, I’d rather see some of the Giants’ younger arms get enough innings to see how much they can learn and grow …
ReplyDelete