The Detroit Tigers and Jack Flaherty have agreed to a one-year, $14 million contract, making him the highest-paid pitcher in franchise history. The deal was officially announced on Wednesday, January 13th, 2021.
Jack Flaherty is a 25-year-old right-handed pitcher who has been with the St. Louis Cardinals since 2018. He had a career-best season in 2020, posting a 2.75 ERA and striking out 11.3 batters per nine innings. Flaherty was an All-Star in 2019 and finished fourth in the National League Cy Young Award voting in 2020.
The Tigers are hoping that Flaherty can help turn around their fortunes after a dismal 2020 season. The team finished with a 23-35 record and was last in the American League Central Division. The Tigers are looking to build a competitive team for the 2021 season and beyond, and signing Flaherty is a step in the right direction.
Flaherty will join a young and talented pitching staff that includes Matthew Boyd, Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, and Michael Fulmer. The Tigers also have a strong lineup that includes Miguel Cabrera, Jeimer Candelario, and Niko Goodrum.
The Tigers are hoping that Flaherty can be the leader of their pitching staff and help them compete for a playoff spot in 2021. He has the potential to be an ace and could be the difference between the Tigers making the playoffs or not.
This is a great move for the Tigers and shows that they are serious about competing in 2021. With Flaherty leading their pitching staff, the Tigers could be a force to be reckoned with in the American League Central Division.
