The Detroit Tigers are one of the top teams in baseball this season, and have done so despite the struggles of some of their starting pitchers. While Tarik Skubal is the AL Cy Young favorite, the rest of the rotation hasn’t been at their best.
One of those pitchers is Jack Flaherty. He had a good 2024 season between the Tigers and the Dodgers, but in 2025, he’s struggled all year. Those struggles will come to a head in the offseason, as Flaherty has a decision to make.
As MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand mentions, Flaherty has an opt-out after the 2025 season, and depending on how the rest of his 2025 goes, his decision is likely to be made.
What is Determining Flaherty’s Free Agent Decision
Flaherty is in the middle of a two-year, $35 million deal with the Tigers. But after 2025, he could opt out and become a free agent. During the 2025 season, after reaching 15 starts, his 2026 salary was boosted from $10 million to $20 million.
Even though his 2026 salary increased significantly, Flaherty still has a decision to make whether he signs onto that deal or opts out. As Feinsand mentions, his decision could be determined by his final month of the year.
“Flaherty is 7-13 with a 4.87 ERA in 26 starts this season,” Feinsand writes, “so the way he finishes the year will influence his contractual decision.”
The 2025 season hasn’t been Flaherty’s best, especially lately. Going by ERA+, Flaherty has an 85 this season, meaning he’s 15 percent worse than the league average pitcher. In comparison, he hasn’t been below that mark since his rookie year in 2017.
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Last season with the Tigers, he had a 141 ERA+ through 18 starts with a 2.95 ERA, eventually being dealt to the Dodgers, and helping them win the World Series in 2024.
If nothing changes for Flaherty, he’d likely not opt out, as he would have a harder time finding a team willing to give him $20 million in 2026 after a rough season.
But if he were to close out the year strong and have a good postseason, then Flaherty might seek a larger deal in free agency, banking on his production at the end of the year carrying his negotiations.
The most likely scenario is that Flaherty doesn’t opt out and remains in Detroit for the 2026 season, barring the Tigers deciding to move on from him.
With quality starting pitching hard to come by, the Tigers would be better off hoping he could get back to form in 2026. While he’s not been his best this season, he’s shown flashes of being a strong pitcher.
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