Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty declined to opt out of his contract and will return to the team in 2026 on a $20 million salary, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

While Flaherty could have voided the deal for next year, he would have been subject to a potential qualifying offer from the Tigers and the uncertainty of the free agent market coming off a down season.

Flaherty, 30, posted another stellar strikeout total in 2025 but nonetheless suffered the most losses in the American League with 15. His propensity to give up home runs -- he allowed 23 in 161 innings -- caused his ERA to balloon to 4.64.

His return to Detroit helps stabilize the Tigers' rotation in an offseason of potentially seismic change. While the Tigers have no plans to trade soon-to-be two-time Cy Young Award w

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