The Los Angeles Dodgers, known for their aggressive front office and win-now mentality, are once again making headlines—and this time, it’s for a potential blockbuster trade that could shake up the landscape of Major League Baseball. According to multiple league insiders, the Dodgers are eyeing a dramatic move to acquire a former St. Louis Cardinals ace, signaling that they’re all-in on fixing their injury-plagued rotation and making a serious run at another World Series title.
The name turning heads across the league? Jack Flaherty. Once the future of the Cardinals’ pitching staff and now a proven force elsewhere, Flaherty has emerged as a potential trade target for the Dodgers as the front office looks to plug gaping holes in its starting rotation. While no deal is yet finalized, conversations are reportedly intensifying—fueled by desperation, opportunity, and a postseason-or-bust mentality in Los Angeles.
It’s no secret that the Dodgers’ rotation has been one of the team’s most glaring weaknesses in 2025. After losing key starters to injury—including Clayton Kershaw’s continued absence and a troubling stretch of inconsistency from young arms like Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone—the Dodgers have been forced to lean heavily on bullpen games and spot starts, a strategy that simply won’t hold up in October. The front office, led by Andrew Friedman, appears unwilling to watch another promising season slip away because of shaky pitching depth.
Enter Jack Flaherty.
Once one of the most electric young arms in baseball, Flaherty has re-emerged in recent seasons as a durable and dominant starter. His time with the Cardinals was marked by brilliance—especially his 2019 campaign, where he posted a 2.75 ERA and 231 strikeouts in 196.1 innings—but also by frustrating injuries. After leaving St. Louis, Flaherty found new life with a change of scenery and has been quietly building back his ace-level form.
Scouts now rave about his velocity returning, his slider biting with more force than ever, and—perhaps most critically—his ability to handle big moments. For a team like the Dodgers, that last trait may be the most valuable. October is unforgiving. It demands poise, command, and confidence. Flaherty checks those boxes when healthy, and the Dodgers know it.
Sources say Los Angeles has been scouting Flaherty heavily over the past month and have even sent key personnel—including Friedman himself—to evaluate his recent outings. The early returns have been promising. Flaherty is reportedly open to a move, especially one that puts him back in the spotlight and into contention. He’s a California native, born in Burbank, which adds a layer of intrigue and personal motivation to a potential homecoming.
What would it cost? That’s the million-dollar question. The Dodgers, always protective of their top prospects, may finally be willing to part with some in order to make this deal happen. Names like Josue De Paula, Nick Frasso, and even Dalton Rushing have surfaced in trade talks, though nothing appears imminent. The asking price will be steep—especially if Flaherty is viewed as more than a rental. If the Dodgers believe they can extend him, or even secure a club option, they may justify the price.
This potential deal also reflects a broader shift in the Dodgers’ strategy. For years, they’ve walked a careful line—balancing development with major acquisitions. But with the Padres surging, the Giants improving, and the Braves and Phillies looking like juggernauts in the NL, the margin for error is shrinking. The Dodgers are still an elite team, but their rotation issues threaten to derail everything. Fixing that—now, not later—may be the difference between early October heartbreak and a parade down Vin Scully Avenue.
The urgency is also driven by age and opportunity. Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani are all in their prime, but that window won’t stay open forever. Betts has battled nagging injuries. Ohtani, dazzling as ever at the plate, won’t pitch until 2026 due to Tommy John surgery. And while Freeman has been a model of consistency, he’s now 35. Adding a frontline starter like Flaherty doesn’t just stabilize the present—it protects the championship timeline.
The fans are certainly watching with anticipation. Dodgers Nation has been vocal all season, demanding the front office make a bold move to correct what many see as the team’s Achilles’ heel. Social media has exploded with speculation, mock trades, and analysis, with hashtags like #FlahertyToLA and #DodgersTradeBuzz trending following the initial reports.
Meanwhile, opposing teams are watching nervously. A healthy Flaherty joining a rotation that already features Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and a resurgent James Paxton could create one of the most dangerous staffs in baseball—especially come playoff time. Few teams can match the Dodgers’ mix of power, depth, and experience. Add a legit October horse to that mix, and the rest of the National League just got a lot more worried.
Flaherty’s arrival would also be symbolic. In many ways, he represents a redemption arc—not just for himself, but for the Dodgers’ pitching unit as a whole. Once the gold standard of rotational excellence, the Dodgers’ starters have been humbled in recent years. This move says they’re not content to wait on internal solutions or hope for health to magically return. They’re going out and getting it done. That’s the Dodgers way—and that’s why they’ve been a perennial powerhouse for over a decade.
Of course, nothing in baseball is guaranteed. Trades can fall apart. Injuries can return. Chemistry can falter. But one thing is clear: the Dodgers are swinging big. And in a season where expectations are sky-high and patience is wearing thin, that boldness might be the only path forward.
As the trade deadline looms closer, expect the pressure to mount. The Dodgers are unlikely to be the only team pursuing Flaherty, and bidding wars could erupt. The Orioles, Yankees, and Astros have all reportedly shown interest in the veteran right-hander, though none may be able to match the combination of need, fit, and financial flexibility that the Dodgers bring to the table.
If this deal happens, it will be a thunderclap across the league. And if it doesn’t? Well, the Dodgers better have a Plan B—because settling for less is no longer an option in L.A.
In the coming days, all eyes will be on Friedman and the front office. Will they pull the trigger on a move that could define their season—and perhaps their legacy? Or will they blink in the face of a steep asking price and gamble that internal fixes will suffice?
One thing is certain: the Dodgers aren’t sitting still. They’re not content with good enough. And if Jack Flaherty walks through that clubhouse door, it will be a clear sign—to the fans, to the clubhouse, and to the entire league—that the Dodgers are all-in, all over again.
