Getty Jack Flaherty pitching during a July 24 game against the Cleveland Guardians.
The Baltimore Orioles will reunite with righty Jack Flaherty at the July 30 trade deadline, according to a prediction by MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince.
“It didn’t work with Flaherty last summer, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work now that he’s reasserted himself with the Tigers (2.95 ERA, 143 ERA+),” Castrovince wrote on July 28 in his list of “12 bold predictions for Tuesday’s Trade Deadline.” “Corbin Burnes, Flaherty, Eflin, and Grayson Rodriguez in the playoff rotation, bolstered by that dynamic offense? Sounds good to me! And it should go without saying that the Orioles have the trade capital to beat out the opposition in the Flaherty sweepstakes.”
On July 29, hours ahead of his scheduled start against the Cleveland Guardians, Flaherty was scratched from the lineup, according to Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of The New York Post.
Days earlier, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that Baltimore hadn’t ruled out a reunion with Flaherty, whom they traded for at the 2023 deadline. But in seven starts down the stretch, Flaherty pitched to a 6.75 ERA, going 1-3. He also appeared 2 innings in the Game 2 of the Orioles’ loss to the Texas Rangers in the AL divisional series, giving up 1 run on 2 hits and 3 walks.
“Normally when a rental acquisition underperforms for his new club, that club wants no part of a reunion,” Rosenthal wrote on July 25. “But in the case of Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty, the Baltimore Orioles would not rule out trading for him again, according to a source briefed on the team’s thinking.”
Flaherty is 7-5 in 18 starts this season. Through July 28, he’s pitched 106.2 innings, allowed 15 home runs and thrown 133 strikeouts.
Orioles, Tigers Talking Skubal Trade
No ground will be gained on a deal for Flaherty until the Tigers shut down talks on Tarik Skubal. And according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, Baltimore and Detroit are still discussing a deal for the 27-year-old ace.
“I was told this morning that the Tigers and Orioles are still talking about a Tarik Skubal trade,” Morosi said on July 29. “If they’re still talking about it on the eve of the deadline, then it’s a real possibility.”
According to VegasInsider, Skubal is the AL Cy Young favorite on betting websites DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM.
The No. 1 pitcher for the Tigers, he’s among the best starters in the majors, pitching 130 innings in 2024 with 154 strikeouts and a 2.35 ERA.
As long as a deal for Skubal is possible, a reunion between Flaherty and the Orioles should be considered a solid backup option.
Rosenthal: ‘Orioles Are Not Done’ Dealing
After trading outfielder Austin Hays to the Philadelphia Phillies and acquiring right-hander Zach Eflin from the Tampa Bay Rays, Rosenthal reports that Baltimore isn’t done dealing.
“The Baltimore Orioles are not done,” Rosenthal wrote on July 27. “They want to add a reliever, preferably left-handed, a right-handed hitting outfielder to replace Austin Hays and yes, maybe another starting pitcher, according to sources briefed on their plans.”
He went on to list a few potential options for the Orioles, including Flaherty.
“After acquiring Zach Eflin, who is under contract for next season at $18 million, the Orioles are not opposed to acquiring a rental starter,” Rosenthal continued. “Jack Flaherty, Yusei Kikuchi, Blake Snell and Frankie Montas all fall into that category. Teams view Snell as likely to opt out after this season, as long as he is healthy.”
The acquisition of Eflin helped to stabilize Baltimore’s stance this trade deadline. They were headed into an offseason with only three starting pitchers projected for their 2025 Opening Day roster.
Eflin will make a fourth. So now, as they look to improve upon their AL East lead, Baltimore can look at rental options, without necessarily worrying about the consequences of their free agency.
Flaherty sits a likely option. But not until the Tigers have shut the door on Skubal.
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Orioles Predicted to Make ‘Bold’ Move for $14 Million Starting Pitcher