The San Francisco Giants have dealt with a lot from the Los Angeles Dodgers recently. LA beat them out for Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto last winter before winning the World Series. Then, the Dodgers took Blake Snell from them and signed him to a $182 million deal.

Could the Giants give the Dodgers a taste of their own medicine by landing starting pitcher Jack Flaherty via free agency? It probably won’t sting very much since the Dodgers’ projected Opening Day rotation is looking full, but it’s better than nothing.

Flaherty didn’t land with Los Angeles until he was acquired before the 2024 trade deadline from the Detroit Tigers. But without him, who knows if the Dodgers would’ve still been hoisting a World Series trophy at the end of October.

He posted a 6-2 record with a 3.58 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 61 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings and was one of just three healthy starting pitchers for manager Dave Roberts to use throughout the postseason. Although Flaherty’s playoff ERA settled in at 7.36, tossing 22 innings was valuable for a team that depended heavily on its bullpen.

The 29-year-old is a Los Angeles native and said during the World Series parade that he never wants to leave. However, the Dodgers signing Snell might mean Flaherty will have to pitch elsewhere in 2025 and beyond. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter thinks it’ll be for the Giants in his latest Opening Day starting rotation predictions.

“After watching Blake Snell opt out of his contract and then sign with the rival Los Angeles Dodgers, expect the Giants to push to replace him with another frontline caliber starter they can slot alongside Logan Webb atop the staff,” Reuter wrote. “There is plenty of risk tied to Jack Flaherty given his injury and command issues prior to his resurgent 2024 season, but he also pitched like a legitimate No. 1 starter at times in 2024.”

Spotrac is estimating Flaherty’s market value at three years and $63 million. However, other projections have him landing a significantly higher payday. The Athletic’s Tim Britton has him signing a four-year, $92 million deal, while MLB Trade Rumors is predicting a five-year, $115 million guarantee.