MLB free agency: Jack Flaherty returning to the Detroit Tigers; Max Scherzer joining Toronto Blue Jays

MLB free agency is nearing its conclusion, with many of the big names off the board and spring training right around the corner. But some impact players are still available.

Here’s a look at where things stand so far this offseason:

Jack Flaherty is reportedly headed back to Detroit.

The Tigers struck a two-year, $35 million deal with their former right-hander on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The move will bring Flaherty back to Detroit after he was traded from the Tigers to the Dodgers last summer ahead of their World Series run.

Flaherty held a 13-7 record with a 3.17 ERA over 28 games last season, his eighth in the major leagues. He was No. 12 on Yahoo Sports’ list of this winter’s top 50 free agents.

Future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer will spend his 18th MLB season in Toronto. Scherzer and the Blue Jays have reportedly agreed on a one-year, $15.5 million deal, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Scherzer was No. 42 on Yahoo Sports’ list of this winter’s top 50 free agents. He was injured for much of 2024, pitching just 43 1/3 innings with a 3.95 ERA, but the season prior, he helped the Texas Rangers win the World Series.

After a relatively quiet offseason, the Braves are adding 2024 All-Star Jurickson Profar on a three-year, $42 million contract. Profar spent the previous season and a half with the San Diego Padres, hitting .280/.380/459 in 2024 and earning a Silver Slugger Award. He will make $12 million in 2025 and $15 million in each of the following two seasons.

Since winning the World Series in 2021, the Braves have struggled to get back to the top of the sport. They’ve reached the playoffs in the past three seasons but haven’t made it past the division series.

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Follow along with Yahoo Sports as we track all the rumors, signings and more during MLB free agency:

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  • Rays pick up RHP Alex Faedo in trade with Detroit Tigers

  • Yankees sign SP Carlos Carrasco to minor-league deal

    The 37-year-old Carrasco was 3-10 with a 5.64 ERA in 103 2/3 innings with the Guardians last season.

  • Jack Flaherty returning to the Tigers

    Jack Flaherty is headed back to Detroit. The Tigers struck a two-year, $35 million deal with the right-hander on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

    Flaherty, who was traded from the Tigers to the Dodgers last July ahead of their World Series run, held a 3.17 ERA and a 13-7 record in 28 games throughout the season. The 29-year-old has an opt-out clause in his new deal after the first season.

  • MLB free agency: Jack Flaherty returning to the Detroit Tigers; Max Scherzer joining Toronto Blue Jays

    SP Michael King avoids arbitration, settles with San Diego Padres

    King’s deal includes a $1 million salary for 2025 plus a $3 million signing bonus. There is also a mutual option for 2026 that is worth $15 million.

    The 2025 contract includes incentives that could push his total earnings to $8 million.

    The 29-year-old King came to San Diego in the Juan Soto trade in December 2023. He made 30 starts last season and recorded a 2.95 ERA with 201 strikeouts in 173 2/3 innings.

  • Polanco reportedly returning to Mariners

  • Dodgers make Kirby Yates deal official, DFA Ryan Brasier

    Here is the state of the Los Angeles Dodgers: They just DFA’d Ryan Brasier, who has a 1.89 ERA in 68 appearances across two seasons with the team, because he is their sixth-best right-handed reliever.

    Brasier, who is due $4.5 million for this season, will almost certainly draw trade interest, but the Dodgers now have Kirby Yates (officially), Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Brusdar Graterol and Even Phillips on the right-handed side alone.

  • What to make of this deal for Scherzer and the Jays?

    It wasn’t much of a mystery what kind of contract Scherzer would command after fellow veteran right-handers Alex Cobb, Charlie Morton and Justin Verlander all inked one-year, $15M pacts earlier this winter, but it took a while for Scherzer’s potential landing spots to crystalize. Ultimately, the Blue Jays emerged as the strongest candidates to secure the future Hall of Famer’s services, and a deal came together less than two weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.

    Having already addressed their needs for power and bullpen help with Anthony Santander and Jeff Hoffman, Toronto has now tabbed Scherzer as their salve for a rotation that also needed reinforcing. Add the December acquisition of second baseman Andrés Giménez to vastly improve the club’s infield defense, and the Jays have upgraded nearly every facet of their club this winter. Extending Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remains the most consequential decision facing Toronto this offseason, but the club has unquestionably gotten better across the board this winter.

    Have the Jays improved enough to warrant consideration as legitimate postseason contenders coming off a last-place finish in 2024? If Scherzer can stay healthy for a full season, there’s a good bit to be excited about in the rotation, which features three other highly accomplished right-handers in Kevin Gausman, José Berríos and Chris Bassitt. If Bowden Francis’ surprising second-half breakout from last season was legit, this could end up being one of the stronger units in the American League. However, those are some pretty big “ifs.” Scherzer, who turns 41 in June, made only nine starts in 2023 and has navigated myriad ailments in recent years.

    Toronto will still need a lot to go right on both sides of the ball to compete in the unforgiving AL East, but credit to them for pushing aggressively to improve the roster, even after several failed free-agent pursuits earlier in the offseason. — Shusterman

  • Max Scherzer joining Blue Jays on 1-year deal

    Future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer will spend his 18th MLB season in Toronto. Scherzer and the Blue Jays have reportedly agreed on a one-year, $15.5 million deal, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

    Scherzer was No. 42 on Yahoo Sports’ list of this winter’s top 50 free agents. He was injured for much of 2024, pitching just 43 1/3 innings with a 3.95 ERA, but the season prior, he helped the Texas Rangers win the World Series.

    Read more here.

  • Carlos Estévez reportedly joining Royals on 2-year, $22 million deal

    Reliever Carlos Estévez has reportedly agreed to join the Kansas City Royals on a two-year, $22 million deal with a $13 million club option, per multiple sources.

    Estévez spent last year with the Angels and Phillies, pitching to a 2.45 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 55 innings. In the postseason with Philadelphia, Estévez made three appearances, pitching 2 2/3 innings and surrendering two runs while recording four strikeouts.

    He was No. 28 on Yahoo Sports’ list of this winter’s top 50 free agents.

  • Reds reportedly acquiring Taylor Rogers from Giants

    Rogers has spent the past two seasons with San Francisco, posting a 3.06 ERA and throwing 128 strikeouts in 111 2/3 relief innings.

  • What to make of Kim’s deal with the Rays?

    Amid an offseason of uncertainty for the franchise due to the damage done to Tropicana Field by Hurricane Milton, the Rays have quietly gone about their business in hopes of upgrading a roster coming off the franchise’s worst finish since 2017.

    This deal addresses an obvious short-term need in a similar fashion to the one-year pact with backstop Danny Jansen inked earlier this offseason. While Junior Caminero appears primed to seize the third-base job, shortstop projected as a position of weakness for the Rays. Taylor Walls is a tremendous defender but an abysmal hitter, and Jose Caballero profiles better in a utility role than as an every-day shortstop. The 21-year-old Carson Williams is one of baseball’s top overall prospects and spent all of 2024 at Double-A, but his strikeout issues suggest he might still be a year or two away from being ready to contribute in the big leagues. Kim represents an ideal bridge to Williams, whether he ends up opting out after 2025 or sticks around for both years of his deal.

    A fantastic glove in his own right, Kim offers similar defensive upside to Walls and far greater upside with the bat. The unknown with Kim — and surely the reason the 29-year-old had to settle for a deal much lower than what many projected — is how he’ll bounce back from shoulder surgery, which cut his 2024 season short. Walls and Caballero will likely continue to cover short to open the season, but the hope is that Kim can return in May and upgrade the position in a meaningful way. It’s a sensible landing spot for Kim and a nice upside play for a Rays franchise whose limited budget generally precludes them pursuing free agents capable of 4-plus WAR seasons.

  • Rays agree to two-year, $29 million deal with infielder Ha-Seong Kim

    Infielder Ha-Seong Kim is heading to the Tampa Bay Rays, agreeing to a two-year, $29 million contract with the team, per multiple reports. The deal reportedly includes an opt-out after the first season.

    Kim, who spent the past four seasons with the San Diego Padres, is recovering from shoulder surgery but is reportedly expected to return to play in May. He is expected to take over at shortstop in Tampa.

  • Tigers reportedly in agreement with Tommy Kahnle

    The Detroit Tigers and right-handed pitcher Tommy Kahnle are in agreement on a one-year, $7.75 million deal, per multiple reports. Kahnle spent the previous two seasons with the New York Yankees, posting a 2.38 ERA with 94 strikeouts in 83 1/3 innings pitched.

  • MLB free agency: Jack Flaherty returning to the Detroit Tigers; Max Scherzer joining Toronto Blue Jays

    Dodgers add RP Kirby Yates

    The former Texas Rangers closer has agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with an additional $1 million in incentives for games played, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

    The Dodgers are now on track for a $379 million payroll, per Fangraphs’ estimate, which would be the largest payroll in MLB history. The 110% CBT surcharge would mean this deal is more like a $27.3 million deal for them.

    Yates is coming off one of the best seasons by a reliever in 2024, with a 1.17 ERA that ranked behind only Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase for the best mark among relievers.

  • MLB The Show announces cover athletes: Paul Skenes, Gunnar Henderson, Elly De La Cruz

    For the first time ever, MLB The Show has three cover athletes: 2024 NL Rookie of the Year and Pirates ace Paul Skenes, 2023 AL Rookie of the Year and Orioles slugger Gunnar Henderson, and Reds All-Star shortstop Elly De La Cruz.

  • Is Steve Cohen right to complain about the Mets’ Pete Alonso negotiations?

  • Ryan Pressly to the Cubs

    The Houston Astros stuck a deal on Sunday to send closer Ryan Pressly to the Chicago Cubs. Pressly waived his no-trade clause in order to make the deal happen.

    The 36-year-old held a 3.49 ERA in 56 2/3 innings last season with the Astros. The longtime veteran earned two All-Star nods during his seven-year run in Houston, with the most recent coming in 2021.

  • Mets owner Steve Cohen gets candid about Alonso trade: “I don’t like what’s been presented to us”

    The New York Mets have been making big moves this offseason, including signing Juan Soto to a mega contract. But one stubborn piece of the Mets’ offseason has been trying to bring back Pete Alonso.

    At a fan fest event on Saturday, Mets owner Steve Cohen made it clear that negotiations are ongoing, but he is frustrated with the process.

    “Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation. I mean, Soto was tough — this is worse,” Cohen said.

    With things dragging on, Cohen even hinted that the team might have to move on from Alonso if the two sides remain in limbo.

    “As we continue to bring in players, reality is [it] becomes harder to fit in Pete to what is a very expensive group of players that we already have,” he said.

    Read more here.

  • MLB free agency: Jack Flaherty returning to the Detroit Tigers; Max Scherzer joining Toronto Blue Jays

    Jose Altuve open to changing positions if it helps bring Alex Bregman back

    On the news that the Astros have reengaged with Alex Bregman, second baseman Jose Altuve was asked how he would help bring the longtime third baseman back to Houston.

    “For Alex, I’ll do whatever,” Altuve said. That reportedly includes moving to the outfield and allowing Isaac Paredes, who was acquired in the Kyle Tucker trade with the Cubs, to take his spot at second base.

  • Astros renew talks with 3B Alex Bregman: Report

    Alex Bregman’s career with the Astros appeared to be over after Houston signed free-agent first baseman Christian Walker. However, with Bregman’s market apparently stalled, the Astros have resumed talks with the third baseman, who has played all nine of his MLB seasons with Houston, The Athletic reports.

    Bregman has reportedly attracted interest from the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Tigers. But his rumored pursuit of a contract in the five-year, $200 million range has apparently been an obstacle, as it was with the Astros.

    Houston made a six-year, $156 million offer to Bregman, and that deal is still available, according to reports.

    Bregman batted .260 with a .768 OPS, 26 home runs, 30 doubles and 75 RBI in 634 plate appearances last season for the Astros.



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