Jack Flaherty settled into his locker in the Tigers clubhouse at Joker Marchant Stadium on Wednesday morning, next to Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize, and talked about the comfort level he has within the organization and the factor it played in bringing him back.

Jack Flaherty helped the Los Angeles Dodgers win a World Series title last season. However, after becoming a free agent, Flaherty will return to Detroit on a two-year, $35 million contract that includes an opt-out after the first season.

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

Free Press sports writer Evan Petzold evaluates the deal between the Detroit Tigers and Jack Flaherty in free agency, providing a grade and analysis.

Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris was declarative last month when asked about being active on the market following the signing of free-agent reliever Tommy Kahnle. “We’re not done,” Harris said at the time.

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.

"The business is the business, but some of it wasn’t real businesslike," Flaherty said of his free-agent experience.