Sean Manaea and Luis Severino signed with the New York Mets during the offseason after underwhelming performances in 2023. These contracts, likely “pillow” or “make-good” deals, posed little risk for the Mets, with the potential for high rewards.
They weren’t the only pitchers who fell into this category. The Detroit Tigers, aiming to strengthen their roster for a playoff push, brought in Jack Flaherty, who struggled with the Orioles after being traded at the deadline. However, Flaherty turned things around in Detroit, going 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA, and the Tigers unexpectedly made the playoffs despite trading several key players, including Flaherty.
Flaherty later moved to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where, with better run support, he posted a 6-2 record and a 3.58 ERA over 10 regular-season starts. Acquiring him made sense for the Mets at the trade deadline, but they passed. Ironically, it was Flaherty who faced off against the Mets in Game 1 of the NLCS, a reminder of their missed opportunities.
The Mets had two chances to sign Flaherty—once in the offseason and again at the deadline—but passed both times. Flaherty’s one-year, $14 million deal would have aligned with the contracts offered to Manaea and Severino. At just 28, he was a younger option, and his age and talent made him a sensible target for the Mets.
There were no significant rumors linking the Mets to Flaherty, which is surprising given they signed Severino, whose injury history and 2023 performance were similar. Despite Flaherty’s fit, the Mets opted for other short-term additions that ultimately performed well. It was the trade deadline when the Mets had another shot at Flaherty but decided to pursue Paul Blackburn instead, whose injury and struggles derailed that acquisition.
Flaherty’s Game 1 shutout for the Dodgers carries implications for the rest of the NLCS, with the Dodgers relying on their bullpen for the remaining games. Meanwhile, the Mets’ pitching, particularly with Kodai Senga’s pre-deadline injury, highlights the need for a pitcher of Flaherty’s caliber.
The Mets missed out on Flaherty twice, and while it’s only one game, could this decision come back to haunt them?