Intradivisional trades are uncommon, particularly involving above-average starting pitchers. Do the Twins have a chance to acquire this resurgent Detroit Tigers starter, and will they be willing to meet the price?
Recent reports, including one from Dan Hayes, The Athletic’s Twins beat reporter, indicate that the team’s priority at the trade deadline is securing a short-term starting pitcher. Hayes suggests Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi as a potential rental option. Kikuchi, who would cost roughly $3.5 million for the rest of the season, is seen as a more viable postseason starter than Bailey Ober. However, a surge in attendance at Target Field could push the team to pursue a pricier yet appealing candidate like Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty.
Flaherty, signed to a one-year, $14 million contract by the Tigers after stints with the St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Orioles, has excelled with Detroit, posting a 3.13 ERA, 2.96 FIP, and a 127-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 100 2/3 innings. His mid-career resurgence is attributed to improved command, collaboration with top pitching coach Chris Fetter, and pitching in a friendly ballpark. Flaherty’s improved slider, knuckle curve, and four-seam fastball have made him a standout.
Flaherty meets the Twins’ specific needs and budget constraints. He would surpass the “Bailey Ober Threshold,” becoming one of the team’s top three starters for the playoffs. His $4 million cost for the rest of the season has no long-term payroll impact, fitting the Twins’ need to avoid arms with multiple years of control.
While speculating about playoff scenarios is exciting, Flaherty’s immediate value to the team is crucial. The Twins, currently four games behind the slumping Cleveland Guardians and tied with the surging Kansas City Royals, face a mid-season crossroads. Flaherty would boost an already strong rotation, enhancing the team’s chances.
However, acquiring Flaherty comes with challenges. Although the Twins and Tigers have traded recently (e.g., Sawyer Gipson-Long for Michael Fulmer in 2022), the current relationship is uncertain with new Tigers President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris. Trading within the division could require significant prospect capital, risking seeing talents like Andrew Morris, Marco Raya, or Gabriel Gonzalez succeed elsewhere in the division.
Despite these drawbacks, acquiring Flaherty is a risk worth taking for the Twins.
