Dodgers could soon lose $52 million World Series star to Yankees, per insider | Sporting News

The Los Angeles Dodgers undoubtedly have bragging rights over the New York Yankees right now, having easily dispatched them in five games in October’s World Series.

However, an old saying could apply to the Yankees in the wake of their defeat: “Don’t get mad. Get even.”

The Yankees are typically aggressive players in free agency and the Dodgers, for all their financial power, still have a number of free agents that remain unsigned. That could set the stage for New York to pilfer a star or two from LA’s championship-winning roster.

One Major League Baseball insider believes he knows the perfect fit.

On Friday, Jim Bowden of The Athletic played matchmaker, suggesting that the Yankees could sign Dodgers free-agent starter Jack Flaherty this winter. Bowden also projected that Flaherty would sign a three-year, $52 million contract with a new team during the offseason.

“The Yankees seem to be a perfect fit for Flaherty, whom they came close to acquiring at last season’s trade deadline but ultimately nixed the potential deal over medical concerns about his lower back,” Bowden said.

“However, if they are comfortable with his medical records and health risk this time, a deal with the righty still makes sense to bolster their rotation depth — and this way, the Yankees won’t have to part with prospects to get him.” 

Flaherty, 29, came to the Dodgers amid a rash of starting pitching injuries at this season’s trade deadline and ended up starting Game 1 of the World Series, where he shut down the Yankees apart from a Giancarlo Stanton home run.

The up-and-down Flaherty had to sign a one-year contract last winter, but after excelling in 2024, he should have a much deeper market. He pitched to a 3.17 ERA and struck out 194 batters in 162 innings pitched this year, numbers every team would love to add to its rotation.

The Dodgers may not want Flaherty to go to the Yankees, specifically, considering that a World Series rematch is always a possibility. However, with their starting rotation looking nearly filled out, there’s a strong chance they won’t want to offer him the big bucks this winter.

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