The Los Angeles Dodgers made a significant move at the MLB trade deadline by acquiring starting pitcher Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers. However, this decision may ultimately prove to be a regrettable one for the Dodgers. Despite Flaherty’s impressive performance on the mound, with a 2.95 ERA and 0.956 WHIP in 18 starts, his injury history and past struggles with adjusting to new teams are causes for concern.
Flaherty’s lower back issue in July, which forced him to miss starts and scared off other teams like the New York Yankees, raises questions about his durability. Additionally, his struggles after being traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Baltimore Orioles last season, where he put together some of the worst starts of his career, may be a sign of things to come.
The Dodgers, who have been plagued by injuries all season, including to key players like Mookie Betts, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Clayton Kershaw, can ill afford to take on another risky player. Furthermore, the steep price they paid to land Flaherty, including top prospects Thayron Liranzo and Trey Sweeney, may come back to haunt them if Flaherty’s performance does not live up to expectations or if he leaves in free agency at the end of the season.
Overall, while Flaherty’s talent is undeniable, his injury history and past struggles make him a risky addition to a team that desperately needs pitching depth. The Dodgers may ultimately regret this move if Flaherty’s performance does not justify the cost.
