Position: SP B/T: R/R
Age: 28 (10/15/1995)
2023 Traditional Stats: 29 G, 27 GS, 144 1/3 IP, 8-9, 4.99 ERA, 1.580 WHIP, 148 SO, 66 BB
2023 Advanced Stats: 86 ERA+, 22.8% SO%, 10.2% BB%, 5.10 xERA, 4.36 FIP, 4.36 xFIP, 1.8 fWAR, -0.6 bWAR
There were plenty of unknowns surrounding the health of Jack Flaherty going into 2023, given that he threw a total of 36 innings the season prior. He needed to showcase some level of durability, especially in a contract year. Flaherty began the year in the big league rotation for the St. Louis Cardinals and never looked back, as he proved to be one of their most consistent arms in late March/early April. Through six starts, Flaherty went 2-3 with a 3.94 ERA across 32 innings. But that level of performance was unfortunately short-lived for the right-hander.
Flaherty had quite a bit of trouble with his walks, particularly in May and June. His inability to keep the opposing lineup off the base paths proved to be a major problem, as his WHIP skyrocketed. Flaherty was 1-1 with a 5.88 ERA and a 1.654 WHIP in May. It did not get much better from him in June, as he was 1-1 with a 5.32 ERA and a 1.773 WHIP across four starts. Flaherty desperately needed a good month of July to get his season moving back in the right direction.
Luckily, his best stretch of the campaign came at the perfect time. Flaherty opened July with two straight starts and zero runs allowed against the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins. He would finish that stretch going 3-1 and an impressive 3.03 ERA across 29 2/3 innings. By that point in the season, it became clear that the Cardinals were to be sellers at the trade deadline. Flaherty was a top trade candidate, and on August 1, the Baltimore Orioles acquired the starting pitcher.
His first start for the Orioles came on the road against the Toronto Blue Jays, and it was one of his best in recent memory. He had all his pitches working, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out eight in six innings. It felt as if Flaherty would use that to push on, but unfortunately, it all went downhill from there. He allowed three runs or more in his next six starts before the Orioles moved him into the bullpen. Flaherty made the team’s postseason roster, making one relief appearance in the ALDS against the Texas Rangers.
According to Spotrac.com, Flaherty projects to earn $11 million per season on a four-year deal. He has failed to remain healthy over the last three seasons, so it’s hard to envision any team giving him a contract that stretches across more than a year or two. Flaherty could benefit from a low-risk, one-year deal where he could prove to the league that he can not only throw every fifth day but get back to the level he showed as a 23-year-old in 2019 with the Cardinals.
If I were in the position of David Stearns, I would stay clear from signing Jack Flaherty to a long-term deal. The Mets need starting pitchers who can remain healthy throughout a 162-game season. Sure, he threw 144 1/3 innings this year, but it is far from a certainty that he will be able to replicate that level of durability over the next two or even three seasons. The starting rotation needs more stability, and at this point in Flaherty’s career, he cannot provide that for the Mets.
Now, if he is willing to sign a one-year deal to re-establish his value on the market, that is something I would be open to. Flaherty is worth taking a flier on, especially at a reasonable price. The organization has publicly said that 2025 and 2026 will be the Mets window for a championship, so using next season as a building block will be important. Signing Flaherty to a one-year deal with a team or player option for an additional year seems like a sensible decision.
The post MMO Free Agent Profile, Jack Flaherty, RHP first appeared on Metsmerized Online.
