Jack Flaherty posts cryptic Instagram message that might hint at future after Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers have made just one new addition to the rotation this offseason so far with their five-year, $182 million deal for Blake Snell. But unless they get their way and convince Roki Sasaki to come to LA, that should be the only rotation addition we'll see from them.

With Snell, the Dodgers have seven rostered starters, and it wouldn't be surprising if either Tony Gonsolin or Dustin May is kicked to the bullpen. Snell's signing spelled a conclusive end to fans' hopes for a Walker Buehler return, and sure enough, he signed a one-year deal with the Red Sox just before Christmas. It also didn't bode well for Jack Flaherty's future in LA, but that always seemed like a more distant possibility than Buehler coming back.

Flaherty, a southern California native who grew up rooting for the Dodgers, made it clear that he'd like to come back if the team would have him. Although there are teams who are interested in his services — the Orioles are reportedly the latest — it seems like he still isn't quite ready to let go of his Dodgers dream.

On New Year's Eve, he posted a screenshot to his Instagram story. It was a text from a family member, likely from the trade deadline when he came over from the Tigers, congratulating him on the trade and looking forward to "actually support at Dodger Stadium again without being heckled."

Jack Flaherty's latest Instagram update sends mixed messages about his future in free agency

It's unclear what Flaherty's intention is here. Was he reminiscing on good times, making a light plea for the Dodgers to take him back, or saying goodbye to the organization?

LA has stayed mum on a potential reunion with Flaherty and, unlike Buehler, his postseason performance didn't exactly have fans clamoring for his return. To be fair, the Dodgers' rotation had fallen apart ahead of October. Flaherty was tasked with more responsibility accordingly, and the Dodgers still managed to win the World Series, but if the Dodgers were going to take any of their departing free agent starters back in an already crowded rotation, Buehler's chances were better than Flaherty's.

Fans probably shouldn't read into Flaherty's post as a sign that his return is inevitable. Although Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw might not be ready to pitch by Opening Day, it's more plausible that the Dodgers would let Landon Knack or another cheap, easy-to-option pitcher fill in a potential fifth or sixth spot in the rotation while they wait for the others to be ready than commit another starter to even a one-year deal.

Flaherty had some nice moments in LA after the trade deadline, but it's more likely than not that his tenure will be limited to the half-season he already got.