The San Francisco Giants were seen as the favorites to land starting pitcher Corbin Burnes a few weeks ago.

Burnes was looked at as the backup plan after San Francisco lost Blake Snell to the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency. Speaking of the Dodgers, the Giants could poach a starting pitcher from Los Angeles just like the Dodgers did with Snell.

FanSided’s Christopher Kline recently predicted the Giants would pursue free-agent starting pitcher Jack Flaherty. Flaherty ended the 2024 season with the Dodgers.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post predicts the righty to sign an $80 million contract this winter.

“The hard-throwing righty finished last season with a 3.17 ERA across 28 starts, netting 194 strikeouts in 162.0 innings,” Kline wrote.

“He split his season between the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers, ending on the mountaintop with his hometown team. That puts the Giants in a prime position to swipe a division rival’s best postseason pitcher. “

Flaherty won’t reach the same heights as Snell did in his brief San Francisco tenure, but he’s a durable 29-year-old with some of MLB’s best punch-out stuff. As far as the remaining options are concerned, few should appeal to San Francisco more than Flaherty.”

Flaherty would be a solid consolation prize after losing Snell and whiffing on Burnes. He’s obviously not the same level of talent as the other two starters, but he’s also much cheaper and the best option left.

Instead of dealing a load of prospects away for a pitcher like Dylan Cease or Luis Castillo, the Giants could steal the righty from the Dodgers in a very obvious move.