Overview
- Flaherty’s 2026 salary doubled from $10 million to $20 million via an escalator triggered by reaching at least 15 starts, which he surpassed with 31.
- He finished 2025 at 8-15 with a 4.64 ERA over 161 innings with 188 strikeouts, leading the American League in losses and allowing 23 home runs.
- By opting in, he removed the qualifying-offer scenario of roughly $22.025 million and kept Detroit from facing a potential free-agent departure.
- He returned to Detroit on a two-year, $35 million deal signed in February after a strong 2024 that included a midseason trade to the Dodgers and a World Series title, and he has cited comfort with the Tigers’ staff.
- Detroit gains short-term rotation stability alongside Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize and others, with underlying metrics such as a 3.85 FIP suggesting room for a 2026 rebound.