The Tigers are giving Jack Flaherty one last turn before the season closes out.
Detroit activated the right-hander for Sunday’s final game, according to a team announcement, and he’ll replace lefty Brant Hurter, who was optioned to the club’s Florida Complex League affiliate. Flaherty has been on the 15-day IL since late July because of right flexor inflammation.
Flaherty is slated to get the ball for Detroit on Sunday, and he’s expected to handle some innings behind him. He made two rehab starts at Triple-A Toledo, with his latest outing reaching 39 pitches over 2 1/3 innings.
The move serves as a sort of final tune-up before free agency, not a dramatic goodbye. It won’t match the kind of sendoff franchise icon Justin Verlander got yesterday. Detroit brought Flaherty back on a two-year, $35MM contract ahead of the 2025 season, and the club has gotten 50 starts out of him with a mid-4.00s ERA.
His first stint with the Tigers looked much better. Flaherty arrived in Detroit on a one-year, $14MM deal before the 2024 season after a rough year split between the Cardinals and Orioles.
He responded with a sub-3.00 ERA and a career-best 32% strikeout rate across 18 starts. Detroit then dealt him to the Dodgers at the trade deadline for catcher Thayron Liranzo and shortstop Trey Sweeney.
Flaherty was solid in Los Angeles, then returned to Detroit in free agency.
Since that 2024 stretch, he hasn’t been as effective. Still, Sunday gives him a chance to prove he’s healthy before the winter. The soon-to-be 31-year-old could be headed for another prove-it deal.
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