The Los Angeles Dodgers have addressed their biggest roster weakness in a major way, making a crucial trade with the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday afternoon.
Just minutes before the MLB trade deadline, the Dodgers acquired starting pitcher Jack Flaherty from the Tigers, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal . In exchange, Los Angeles reportedly sent High-A catcher/first baseman Thayron Liranzo and Triple-A shortstop Trey Sweeney to Detroit.
After inking a one-year, $14 million deal with the Tigers over the offseason, Flaherty has more than lived up to the short-term contract. In 106 2/3 innings spread over 18 starts, the veteran right-hander boasts a 2.95 ERA - the second-best mark of his nine-year MLB career.
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Upon joining the Tigers, Flaherty worked on refining his mechanics and adding more life to his fastball and slider. The early results show clear signs of improvement - he's amassed 133 strikeouts in 2024, fanning 32.1% of the opposing batters he faces and averaging 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings. His .255 OBP allowed, meanwhile, ranks fifth-lowest among pitchers that've thrown at least 100 innings this season.
Thanks to his late-career resurgence, Flaherty drew considerable interest at this year's MLB trade deadline, with the New York Yankees , Houston Astros and San Diego Padres all reportedly inquiring about his availability. But the 28-year-old ultimately ended up being dealt to the Dodgers, who were looking to add more talent to their injury-riddled starting rotation.
Starters Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May are both out for the season, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler are currently working their way back from a right rotator cuff strain and hip discomfort, respectively. Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw are the two healthy pitchers actively headlining the Dodgers rotation, though both have dealt with their own series of health setbacks this year.
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Liranzo is arguably the most intriguing piece to be included in the trade for Flaherty. The Dodgers' No. 8 overall prospect has risen up the team's farm system at a rapid pace, and has shown flashes of greatness hitting from both sides of the plate.
Sweeney, the No. 22 Dodgers prospect, joined Los Angeles this past offseason and is slashing .254/.334/.427 in 96 games with the Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
The Dodgers (63-44) were quite busy in the leadup to the trade deadline as they looked to bolster their roster for an upcoming World Series push. Los Angeles additionally struck a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays for outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, a defensive specialist and four-time Gold Glove recipient. In 81 games this season, the 34-year-old - who recently revealed that he'd be retiring after this season - is hitting .195 with four home runs and 18 RBIs.
On Monday, the Dodgers also landed utilityman Tommy Edman and right-handed reliever Michael Kopech in a three-team trade with the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals.
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