Detroit Tigers trade rumors: Justin Verlander is drawing interest from “a handful of teams”
By Matt Snyder
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander is drawing trade interest from “a handful of teams” according to baseball insider Jon Heyman.
The Justin Verlander trade rumor train continues to gain momentum as we learn more of rival teams’ interest in the Detroit Tigers starting pitcher. We’ve already learned that the Tigers themselves think they have a chance of trading the ace pitcher and that executives from around the league think he’ll be hitting the market soon.
Today Jon Heyman writes that a few teams are holding interest though some front office members doubt any team would be willing to pick up all of his remaining salary.
"While one rival GM suggested he doubts anyone would pay Verlander’s full salary, which is $28 million a year for this year and two more plus a vesting option for $22 million in 2020, sources also suggest that a handful of teams hold some interest in the former Cy Young winner and MVP, raising the possibility he could be dealt."
Heyman goes on to clarify that Verlander holds no-trade rights but notes that the Dodgers could be one of his top suitors and that Verlander and fiancee Kate Upton own a home in the Los Angeles area.
I wrote previously that the odds of a Verlander trade still appear to be less than 50-50 and this jives with Heyman’s sources.
"One person with knowledge of some early talks put the chances for a trade of ace pitcher Justin Verlander at a “3” on a (1 to 10 scale).”"
It would be interesting to find out what Verlander’s reaction would be if the Tigers ask him to sign off on a trade. Would he like to stay in Detroit for the remainder of his career surrounded by a fanbase who loves him, or would he relish the opportunity to chase a World Series ring in a big-market city?
Verlander has never shown anything but love to the city of Detroit and its fans, but he’s really never entered a season without championship aspirations since he joined the team for good in 2006. He’s already accumulated every individual award that one could hope for (excepting Hall of Fame induction) but never could quite nail down the World Series ring.
With the Tigers out of contention for the foreseeable future, I’d bet on Verlander accepting a trade to a top team in a top market (like the Dodgers or Cubs, for example).
Next: Predicting the Detroit Tigers 2018 lineup
Heyman also writes that the Tigers most likely to be traded this summer are outfielder J.D. Martinez, catcher Alex Avila, closer Justin Wilson, and second baseman Ian Kinsler.