The Los Angeles Dodgers made their first big move before the MLB trade deadline to acquire Tommy Edman and Michael Kopech in a three-team deal with the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox.
While that addressed multiple areas of concern, the Dodgers’ biggest need remained starting pitching.
They have been linked to the likes of White Sox ace Garrett Crochet, Detroit Tigers teammates Tarik Skubal and Jack Flaherty, and Toronto Blue Jays southpaw Yusei Kikuchi, among others.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Dodgers addressed their starting rotation by trading for Flaherty:
BREAKING: Jack Flaherty to the Dodgers.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2024
The Dodgers traded prospects Thayron Liranzo and Trey Sweeney to the Tigers in order to acquire Flaherty, per Robert Murray of FanSided:
Full trade: The Los Angeles Dodgers are acquiring Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers for Thayron Liranzo and Trey Sweeney, according to sources familiar with the deal.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) July 30, 2024
A former heralded prospect, Flaherty is in the midst of a strong season with the Tigers. He was scratched from starting Monday night against the Cleveland Guardians due to ongoing trade talks.
Flaherty is 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA, 3.10 FIP and 0.96 WHIP in 18 starts this season. The right-hander additionally has a 32% strikeout rate that is on track to be the best of his career.
In addition to the Dodgers, the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies were among the teams connected to Flaherty over recent weeks as well.
This is the second year in a row that Flaherty was traded at the deadline. The Cardinals traded Flaherty to the Orioles last season, after which he struggled and was demoted to a bullpen role before becoming a free agent.
How Jack Flaherty helps Dodgers rotation
In trading for the Burbank, Calif., native, the Dodgers have added some insurance should Bobby Miller or Walker Buehler not return to form this season.
Flaherty’s boost to the Dodgers rotation will be magnified all the more in the event Yoshinobu Yamamoto returns from a right rotator cuff strain as that would further deepen the group. And in the event Yamamoto can’t return or doesn’t pitch to his pre-injury level, Flaherty figures to be key in mitigating that.
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