The Los Angeles Dodgers made a big move before the MLB trade deadline by acquiring starting pitcher Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers. In exchange, they sent Thayron Liranzo and Trey Sweeney, two highly regarded prospects, to Detroit. However, it was revealed that the New York Yankees had also been in the running for Flaherty.
According to reports, the Yankees had a preliminary deal in place to acquire Flaherty but decided to back out after reviewing his medical records. Flaherty had been dealing with lower back issues that required two injections in July, which caused him to miss a start. Despite this, he has performed well in his recent outings, boasting a 1.53 ERA in 17.2 innings with 18 strikeouts and two wins.
Flaherty’s overall numbers this season have also been impressive, with a 2.95 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 133 strikeouts in 106.2 innings. He is even in the conversation for the AL Cy Young award. The Dodgers were unfazed by his medical history and were happy to complete the trade.
On the other hand, the Yankees decided to focus on other areas of their roster, acquiring Jazz Chisholm Jr. and bolstering their bullpen with Mark Leiter Jr. and Enyel De Los Santos. Chisholm has already made a positive impact for the team, but if Flaherty continues to excel with the Dodgers and helps them win the World Series, the Yankees may regret passing up on the opportunity to acquire him.
Overall, the trade deadline saw Flaherty move to the Dodgers, with the Yankees missing out due to concerns over his health. It will be interesting to see how things play out for both teams and whether Flaherty’s performance will validate the Dodgers’ decision to acquire him.
