Orioles spring training revenge against former bust was far from meaningless

On Sunday, March 16, the Baltimore Orioles sent a clear message to their former pitcher, Jack Flaherty, by delivering the Detroit Tigers a 7-1 beatdown in a spring training matchup that felt more like a statement game than a casual preseason contest. While spring training results are often taken with a grain of salt, this particular outing had a little extra seasoning on it, as Flaherty took the mound against the team that once pinned high hopes on his arm—only to be left disappointed.

Flaherty’s final line was nothing short of disastrous: four innings pitched, seven hits, six earned runs, two walks, and a home run allowed. He managed to strike out six, but by the time he stepped out for the fifth inning, he was running out of gas. He couldn’t record a single out in the frame, surrendering three runs, including a leadoff home run to Colton Cowser, before getting the hook. Despite throwing 79 pitches in the outing, endurance—the key factor in his preparation—seemed to elude him, as fatigue was evident by the time the Orioles chased him out of the game.

For a pitcher of Flaherty’s caliber, this kind of smacking raises questions. Once considered one of the better arms in the majors, he showcased elite skills that earned him a Cy Young nomination and MVP votes in 2019 with the St. Louis Cardinals. But that version of Flaherty has been a challenge to find in recent years.

Baltimore acquired Flaherty at the 2023 trade deadline, hoping he could help solidify their rotation down the stretch. Instead, they received a shadow of the pitcher who once dominated in St. Louis. Over seven starts and nine total appearances, Flaherty posted a 6.75 ERA across 34.2 innings, proving to be more of a liability than an asset. Following that disappointing stint, he hit free agency and signed with the Tigers before being traded to the Dodgers, where he played a role in their 2024 World Series win. He's now returned to Detroit for the 2025 season, making Sunday’s reunion with Baltimore all the more interesting.

Jack Flaherty’s struggles prove that the O's dodged a bullet

At 29, Flaherty remains a desirable arm for many organizations, so much so that the Orioles were rumored to be interested in offering a second chance. But his inconsistent health history casts doubt on his ability to sustain his dominance. His 2023 season was plagued by injuries and "general soreness", undoubtedly contributing to his struggles in Baltimore. He dealt with a nagging back issue in 2024 as well, adding another layer of uncertainty to him. Given his rollercoaster trajectory, it’s fair to wonder whether Flaherty is merely treading water at this stage rather than truly excelling.

For the Orioles, Sunday’s beatdown may have provided some sort of catharsis, helping to put to bed frustrations over his underwhelming time with the team. If nothing else, it reaffirmed that their rotation woes mostly wouldn't have been solved by him.

As Baltimore enters the 2025 season with heightened expectations, their offense looks poised to deliver, but questions still loom over their pitching staff. Can their current rotation hold up, or will reinforcements be needed before the trade deadline? Time will tell, but one thing seems certain—the addition they could be looking to add will not be named Jack Flaherty.