The contract includes an opt-out clause after the first year and he would receive $25 million in salary and bonus this upcoming season.

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.