Jack Flaherty was a key piece of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series championship in 2024. Now, the righty is a free agent and unlikely to re-sign with the Dodgers after Los Angeles added Roki Sasaki and Blake Snell in free agency.
Where will Flaherty sign if the Dodgers are off the table?
ESPN’s David Schoenfield recently predicted Flaherty would shock the baseball world and sign his free agency deal with the crosstown rival Los Angeles Angels.
“From 2021 to 2023, he made just 50 starts with a 4.35 ERA as he battled injuries and control problems,” Schoenfield wrote. “He got off to a hot start with Detroit last season (2.95 ERA, 7.0 SO/BB ratio) but tailed off after his trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers (3.58 ERA, 3.21 SO/BB ratio). He had one great scoreless start for the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, but he also got hammered a couple of times and his overall postseason (7.36 ERA) didn’t win him any bonus points from evaluators.
“The Angels’ payroll is about where it was last season but still well below the luxury tax threshold — and they certainly could use another starting pitcher if they’re serious about trying to contend in what could be a wide-open American League West.”
The Angels could use talent across the board if they’re trying to chase down the best teams in the American League. They’ve already added a few quality players, but they haven’t added enough to catch the top teams in the league.
The Angels might not be the favorites to land Flaherty this offseason, but they’re certainly a dark horse candidate.
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