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The Detroit Tigers will have one of their stars returning for the 2026 season as Jack Flaherty exercised his player option for next season on Tuesday.
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Flaherty, who won the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, returned to Detroit on a two-year, $35 million deal in February. The Tigers announced that Flaherty exercised his $20 million option for the 2026 season.
Jeff Passan
@JeffPassan
Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty is not opting out of his $20 million contract for 2026, sources tell ESPN. He will return to Detroit, where he has played in each of the last two seasons.
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Fans reacted to the 30-year-old returning for the next season amid rumors surrounding ace Tarik Skubal's Tigers future.
"$20mm is crippling for that payroll. Skubal definitely gone now."
Jackson Hawes Fan Club 🦬
@Jason_Walker24
$20mm is crippling for that payroll. Skubal definitely gone now.
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"Bro knew nobody wanted him after his performance this year."
𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯
@xJahstin
Bro knew nobody wanted him after his performance this year
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"20 a year isn't that what they wanna pay Skubal? So they're telling him he's Jack Flaherty's equal?"
eric
@EeeAreEyeSea
20 a year isn't that what they wanna pay Skubal? So they're telling him he's Jack Flaherty's equal?
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"Curious to see what the Tigers do this winter. They have one more year left of Tarik Skubal, but they’re still quite a few pieces away. Do they go for it in a weak AL, or hit reset again?"
The Yankees Blog
@DericFung
@JeffPassan Curious to see what the Tigers do this winter. They have one more year left of Tarik Skubal, but they’re still quite a few pieces away. Do they go for it in a weak AL, or hit reset again?
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"His 2019 lives rent free in my mind but not easy to get more than 20 mil after leading the league in losses."
Colin
@isitallbots
@JeffPassan his 2019 lives rent free in my mind but not easy to get more than 20 mil after leading the league in losses.
Flaherty had an underwhelming 2025 season on his return to the Tigers, finishing with 4.64 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP in 31 starts.
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Edited by Chaitanya Prakash
