The Atlanta Braves are assumed to be shopping starting pitching this off-season. There are some pretty big names out there, but one the Braves have recently been linked to is Jack Flaherty. Here’s why we think Jack Flaherty may not be an unlikely fit for the Atlanta Braves.
Also Read: Top 10 SP Free Agents
The Atlanta Braves can only watch now as Max Fried enters free agency and Charlie Morton potentially heads off into retirement. Fortunately, the Braves still have a solid pitching rotation setup for 2025. Chris Sale is about to win his first Cy Young Award, Reynaldo Lopez was a free agent reliever turned superstar starting pitcher, Spencer Strider was a Cy Young favorite entering last season, and Spencer Schwellenbach established himself as a strikeout artist in his first major-league season.
You know the old adage: You can never have enough starting pitching.
- The Atlanta Braves Have Been Linked to Jack Flaherty
- The Ups and Downs of Jack Flaherty’s Career
- Jack Flaherty Took a 1-Year Prove-it Deal in 2024 and He Proved it
- Projecting Jack Flaherty’s Contract in 2025
- Why Atlanta Braves Won’t Sign Jack Flaherty
The Atlanta Braves Have Been Linked to Jack Flaherty
The Braves have been linked to Jack Flaherty recently. And why not? It’s a lot of fun to speculate on what the Braves roster might look like as we think about the upcoming Hot Stove League.
The Ups and Downs of Jack Flaherty’s Career
Jack Flaherty had a resurgent season after some big ups and downs over his career. Flaherty emerged in 2018 with the St. Louis Cardinals, posting a 3.34 ERA over 28 starts. The next season, he took another step into superstardom. Flaherty posted a 2.75 ERA over 196.1 innings pitched that year with 231 Ks.
He would pitch just 154.2 innings over the next three seasons (2020-2022). Dealing with injuries and some inconsistency, his ERA was 3.90 over that time.
In 2023, Jack Flaherty started the season with a 4.43 ERA in 20 starts for St. Louis. He was now four seasons removed from his elite 2019. In the final season before free agency, the Cardinals traded Flaherty away to the Orioles. In nine appearances with the Orioles, Flaherty went 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA. Not the impression he wanted to leave before becoming a free agent.
Entering free agency last season, Flaherty had a 4.42 ERA since the start of 2020. Flaherty was coming off of his worst major-league season in 2023 (4.99 ERA in 144.1 IP). He would need to find a one-year deal to prove his health and production.
He signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers worth $14 million. After posting a 2.95 ERA over 18 starts, Flaherty was traded to the Dodgers to bolster their rotation for the Postseason.
Flaherty is entering his age-29 season in 2025 and coming off of his best season since 2019.
Jack Flaherty 2024 Stats
- ERA: 3.17
- Starts: 28
- Innings: 162.0
- Strikeouts: 194
- Wins: 13
- Losses: 7
- WHIP: 1.07
- Walks Per 9: 2.1
- SO Per 9: 10.8
Jack Flaherty Took a 1-Year Prove-it Deal in 2024 and He Proved it
I suspect Flaherty will be seeking a long-term deal considering he is entering his age-29 season and after taking a one-year, prove-it deal in 2024, he probably feels that he proved himself.
Projecting Jack Flaherty’s Contract in 2025
I’ve seen projections for Flaherty’s 2025 contract at three-years, $60 million and up to six-years, $121 million. If Flaherty is looking for three years at $20 million per year, that would make sense for Atlanta. It minimizes the risk and isn’t an overpay for the production Flaherty has shown he is capable of. Atlanta has paid Charlie Morton $20 million the past four seasons as he aged into the end of his career.
I don’t think Flaherty will be looking for a three-year deal. When stud pitchers take short-term contracts, there is an expectation that they get paid more on the annual average to make up for the lack of long-term security, as if $60 million is not long-term security…
We watched Blake Snell take a short-term deal last year but he got $62 million for two years. Eduardo Rodriguez got $20 million for four years. Sonny Gray got $25 million over three years.
Why Atlanta Braves Won’t Sign Jack Flaherty
Flaherty has a history he can point to as an elite starting pitcher. He also has a solid argument that he’s regained his health and can be an ace. We have him ranked as our #3 free agent starting pitcher this offseason, I think he’s going to be priced out of the Braves market.
Whether we are looking at three high-priced years, or five-six slightly lower but still high-priced years, I think this is not the type of contract the Braves are looking for. If they were looking for this type of deal, they could just bring Max Fried back.
There are older guys like Jose Quintana out there who can provide solid production at a lower price tag and no long-term risk. There are guys like Walker Buehler who will find himself in the same position as Jack Flaherty last season. I don’t think Flaherty is a fit for Atlanta, not that I’d be upset to see him in a Braves uniform.
What do you think? Does it make sense for the Braves to sign Jack Flaherty? Let us know in the comments.
2025 Atlanta Braves Roster Resources
- 2025 MLB Free Agents
- How Much Will Max Fried Make in Free Agency?
- Top 10 Free Agent Starting Pitchers in 2025
- Rating 10 Largest SP Contracts in MLB History
- 8 Atlanta Braves Free Agents | 4 Club Options
- 2025 Atlanta Braves Roster (41 Players Under Team Control)
- How Does the Competitive Balance Tax Work?
- Why Braves Should Sign Willy Adames
- Why Braves Should Sign Walker Buehler
Leave a Reply