The Los Angeles Dodgers completed what was arguably the biggest trade at the deadline by acquiring Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for prospects Thayron Liranzo and Trey Sweeney.
The right-hander ended up being the most prominent starting pitcher to get traded as Garrett Crochet, Tarik Skubal and Blake Snell all stayed put with their respective clubs.
Flaherty was highly sought after as other big-market teams like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox also pursued him. One report suggested that the Yankees had a deal in place to acquire him before backing out over health concerns.
However, general manager and senior vice president Brian Cashman disputed that notion, saying he simply could not agree to terms on a trade with the Tigers, via Brendan Kuty of The Athletic:
“I would have brought Jack Flaherty in if I could have matched up,” Cashman said in a conference call with reporters Wednesday, “and I had difficulty matching up. That was the reason I don’t have him. Simple as that.”
The Yankees were said to be specifically worried about Flaherty’s back injury that was treated with multiple shots on June 10 and July 2. The 28-year-old missed a total of two starts in the three-week span.
Flaherty also got scratched from his scheduled start on Monday in anticipation of a trade on deadline day. However, Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Flaherty is healthy and would have taken the mound for the team this week if he wasn’t traded.
Aside from the lower back discomfort, Flaherty has also sustained a left oblique strain, right shoulder strain, right shoulder discomfort, right shoulder strain in his eight-year MLB career.
Jack Flaherty downplays back injury concerns
Flaherty joined the Dodgers on Wednesday and expressed his excitement to be part of the team he grew up cheering for while also addressing concerns about the lower back trouble.
“All I know is I’ve felt great. I’ve felt great. Since we got back from the (All-Star) break or even right before that, I felt great,” Flaherty said.
“Just been ready to pitch and pretty anxious, just want to get out there again. I pitched a week ago and getting scratched, I understand it’s part of it. I’m just looking forward to getting out there again.”
He is now set to make his Dodgers debut on Saturday.
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