Jack Flaherty Reportedly Open To Short-Term Deal

Jack Flaherty went into the offseason looking for a contract of at least five years to give him security after pitching for four teams over the last two seasons. However, it had been previously mentioned and was recently confirmed by Buster Olney of ESPN that Flaherty is open to a shorter deal. This comes as he has failed to draw much interest despite an overall pitching market that has seen many of his peers get more than expected.

The Tigers seem destined to get at least one more veteran for their roster. They've talked to Alex Bregman, who could be a primary choice, and if that doesn't work out, they could turn to Jack Flaherty, a pitcher they value. Teams say that Flaherty's camp has moved from long-term…

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) February 2, 2025

The contract Cody Bellinger signed with the Cubs last winter is constantly being used as a reference point, which indicates Jed Hoyer did a pretty good job structuring it. And since the Cubs do not like to sign players to long deals, Flaherty’s pivot should be right up Hoyer’s alley.

Injury concerns have made teams wary of offering Flaherty a long contract, with his 2021 and 2022 seasons being riddled with various roadblocks. While the risk is still present, signing him to a two- or three-year deal could be fantastic for both sides. If he outperforms, he will be allowed to test the market again when he is still only 31 years old. If the risks become more prevalent and little success is found, the Cubs only have him for a limited duration

The Cubs still need to round out the roster if they want to put themselves in serious playoff contention, so maybe Hoyer can find a bargain or two with spring training right around the corner.