Flaherty signed a two-year contract worth up to $45 million. His return creates a new level of competition in the Tigers rotation.

A 29-year-old right-hander, Flaherty was 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA in 28 starts last year for Detroit and his hometown Los Angeles Dodgers, who acquired him on July 30 at the trade deadline.

Flaherty will sign two-year, $35 million contract with an opt out, returning to the site of his career turnaround while taking a top starter off the free agent market.