Jack Flaherty’s decision to stick with the Detroit Tigers, despite having a lucrative free agency opportunity, speaks volumes about the transformation happening within the franchise. After turning a two-year, $35 million contract into a $45 million payday through performance bonuses, Flaherty had every reason to explore other options. Yet, he chose to stay, signaling that Detroit has evolved from a rebuilding team to a genuine destination for talent.
“Not everything is about money,” Flaherty noted. “Especially when you are in a place you feel you have a chance to win.” This sentiment would have been hard to imagine for the Tigers not too long ago.
In the late 2010s, Detroit was often seen as a temporary stop for veterans looking to boost their value or a learning ground for young players as the team focused on accumulating draft capital. Now, players like Flaherty are choosing to stay, highlighting a significant shift in perception.
Starting pitching is a prized asset in baseball, and Flaherty’s impressive strikeout rate and swing-and-miss skills would have undoubtedly attracted interest from other teams. However, his commitment to Detroit underscores the appeal of the Tigers’ current environment.
Flaherty’s decision wasn’t just about his teammates. He praised pitching coach Chris Fetter and assistants Robin Lund and Juan Nieves, crediting them for creating a top-tier pitching development program. The Tigers’ approach, which combines biomechanics, personalized plans, and innovative pitch design, has become a magnet for pitchers seeking improvement.
While Flaherty anticipated the Tigers would bolster their roster, the addition of stars like Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander exceeded expectations. These moves not only retained talent but significantly enhanced it, turning the rotation into a powerhouse.
Despite a challenging 2025 season, where Flaherty led the American League with 15 losses and posted a 4.64 ERA, his underlying metrics tell a different story. In the second half, his FIP was an impressive 2.92, and hitters struggled against his knuckle-curve, batting just .205 with a 42 percent whiff rate. His four-seam fastball also showed positive run value, indicating that his strikeout prowess remains intact.
The Tigers are banking on this version of Flaherty to be more consistent in 2026, and Flaherty himself believes Detroit offers the best environment for him to thrive. This mutual confidence marks a new era for the Tigers, one where they are not just retaining talent but attracting it with a vision for winning.