Jack Flaherty has opted in on his player option for the 2026 season with the Detroit Tigers, officially returning to Detroit under a $20 million salary.
Originally, the contract he signed in February 2025 had the second-year option valued at $10 million, but thanks to an escalator clause triggered by making 15 starts, that number jumped to $20 million. For the Tigers, this signals early stability in a rotation that’s become a key piece of their push toward sustained contention.
Flaherty’s decision simplifies Detroit’s offseason calculus. Instead of wondering whether to re-negotiate or let him walk, the club knows they retain this veteran arm for 2026. While his 2025 campaign had its ups and downs–an 8-15 record and 4.64 ERA over 31 starts–there were promising underlying metrics (a 3.85 FIP) that suggest he still has the goods if refined.
That means the Tigers can allocate more mental and financial energy toward other needs, rather than managing the uncertainty of a big free-agent departure.
What Flaherty Brings, and What He Must Improve
Flaherty arrives in 2026 with clear strengths and defined challenges. On the plus side, he remains a strikeout machin–this raw stuff (fastball plus hammer curve) still plays at an upper level and the Tigers’ coaching staff believe they can coax better consistency from him. His experience, including a World Series ring from his time with the Dodgers, adds value.
However, durability and home-run susceptibility are concerns. In 2025, he surrendered 23 home runs over 161 innings–more than the Tigers and their coaching staff would like for someone expected to anchor the rotation.
Fixing his command, limiting hard contact, and maintaining his workload will be central to whether this takes him from “useful starter” to rotation leader in Detroit.
Despite the rough win‐loss record, Flaherty’s advanced metrics (including his strikeout rate and spin profile) hint he may’ve been somewhat unlucky. That gives the Tigers hope that with marginal tweaks and good health, he can be a significantly better version of himself in 2026.
Strategic Implications for Detroit
From a team-building standpoint, Flaherty’s return is meaningful. The Tigers have built up momentum: a young core, a renewed rotation, and growing expectations. Locked in, Flaherty provides one less variable in the equation as Detroit plots either to continue their recent playoff streak or to push deeper.
With Flaherty committed, the Tigers can turn to other areas: bullpen depth, offensive upgrades, or perhaps cost-effective veteran signings. The $20 million allocation isn’t negligible, but compared to spending in the free-agent market on elite arms, it offers value–especially given the contract’s short duration and the fact the escalator was contingent on making starts, which he did.
According to Bless You Boys, “Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize will again form the base of the Tigers’ rotation in 2026 unless there’s a big trade coming.”
For Flaherty personally, opting in may also be the smart path. Entering free agency at age 31, coming off a spotty season, would’ve posed risk. By staying in Detroit, he gets another year to sharpen his value, pitch in a stable environment, and potentially build toward a stronger market in 2027.
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