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

Scott Harris said the Tigers noticed how outspoken Jack Flaherty was about his desire to return. "We got to a point in the offseason when we really rolled up our sleeves and tried to hammer out a deal that made sense for both sides.

Flaherty returned as a free agent, agreeing to a $35 million, two-year contract that was finalized Friday. The right-hander gets a $5 million signing bonus payable on Feb. 11 pending confirmation of terms between Major League Baseball and the players’ association, and a $20 million salary this year.