As the trade deadline approaches, the possibility of the Tigers dealing right-hander Justin Verlander seems more realistic than ever before, suggests Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. The Tigers, who own the American League’s third-worst record (36-43) and are trying to cut payroll, would be willing to eat some of the money remaining on Verlander’s contract, per Cafardo. In addition to what’s left of his $28MM salary this season, Verlander is due $28MM in each of the next two seasons. Additionally, Verlander has a $22MM vesting option for 2020, but that will only trigger if he finishes in the top five of the AL Cy Young voting in 2019. Of course, it’s also worth noting that the 34-year-old has full no-trade rights.
More of Cafardo’s weekly rumblings:
- Having rallied from a dreadful start to climb over .500 (40-39) and into the playoff race, the Royals could look to acquire a front-line pitcher by the deadline, a team official told Cafardo. “We’re constantly evaluating where we are, but right now we feel we have a chance to take the division,” said the official. “Our core players are all playing well right now. If that changes, we have time to make that change, but we’re proceeding like we’re in this to win.” Kansas City is just two games back in the AL Central and a half-game out of the wild card, so the team certainly doesn’t look as if it has the makings of a seller. As such, agent Scott Boras doesn’t expect the Royals to move clients Eric Hosmer or Mike Moustakas, both of whom will be eligible for free agency after the season.
- The Athletics are likely to trade relievers Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle, according to Cafardo, who names the Nationals and Yankees as potential suitors. Madson, who’s on a $7.5MM salary both this year and next, has bounced back from a so-so 2016 to post a 2.53 ERA, 8.72 K/9, 1.69 BB/9 and a 53.6 percent ground-ball rate in 32 innings this season. The oft-injured Doolittle has only thrown 16 1/3 frames, but he has been highly effective (3.31 ERA, 12.67 K/9, 1.1 BB/9); what’s more, he’s controllable for reasonable prices through 2020.
- Another reliever, the Mets’ Addison Reed, could also end up on the move. Odds are, though, that he won’t head to the Nationals, writes Cafardo. The Mets apparently aren’t open to helping the NL East rival Nats fix their bullpen issues.
I mean, the Mets would be open to helping Washington if they offered say, Victor Robles.
CRAAAAZY thought I know, right
All 29 teams would jump on the opportunity to help Washington if Robles becomes available.
Robles for Reed? i wouldn’t bet on it..
Well the package they gave up for Eaton. Was worse
Yes eventually, it is a crazy thought. Though the Nats are anxious, they withhold from desperation like your Mets.
I would think the Tigers will have to eat some of his salary if they want to move him, even with him. Nobody taking him for 28 mill a year.
Yes…that’s what the article says….
I lol’ed…A thumbs up for you good sir…
I feel like the royals might go after a front line starter because they climbed from a dreadful start to over .500 and are .5 game out of the wild card. However if they start playing poorly, they may be sellers. However I heard that boras doesn’t think hos or Moose will be traded!
I don’t know where you got that!
He got it from the internet. Don’t trust anything you see on the internet.
Verlander to the Braves to lead the young guns. We got the payroll space to afford him the 3 years and we got the prospects to make the deal. Could be the veteran presence the young staff needs kinda like Maddux was for the early 90’s Braves. Garcia, Colon, & Dickey’s salaries all together is around Verlander’s money. The more salary the Tigers eat the better the prospects going back.
Not a terrible idea, though I’m not so sure Verlander is wiiling to waive his no-trade clause to join a Braves team still at least a season or two from contending.
I’m not so sure, we’re getting healthy at the right time, and we’re not as far out as the 91 team heading into the AS break. JV in the front of the rotation would be a huge boost to an improving staff. Another lightning strike with a BP arm pickup and we could have a shot. Everyone knows you just have to get in and right now with the Nats hurting a bit we could make up ground.
Verlander would never ever agree to a trade to a team that’s going nowhere. He will ONLY go to a few teams. LAD, Boston, NYY, with Houston and Washington having an outside chance. That’s it. AZ and Colorado have very little chance.
Verlander to the Dodgers for Yusnial Diaz and Brock Stewart.
Mccutchen to the Dodgers for Alex Verdugo and Mitchell White.
Verlander thrives behind Kersh and Cuch gives them a more solid RH outfield presence.
*Dodgers of course take on both salaries.
I’d assume the Tigers would try like hell to get Verdugo in a Verlander deal. CF has been pretty bleak for them this year and they don’t exactly have a ready made solution.
Jacoby Jones lacks a consistent bat
Mahtook seems to be more of a fourth OF to me
Romine and Collins are… less than desirable every day.
But, what do I know, I’m no GM. Just hopeful the Tigers aren;t stuck in the dumpster for too long before they can get back to being competitive
Of course Diaz and Verdugo could be flip flopped.
I’d imagine a Verdugo package with another T100 prospect for both Verlander and JD Martinez instead. Less risk of one team backing out and less long term risk with cutch
Hard pass. The dodgers aren’t taking on the 2 salaries. They’d need to shed significant contracts. It would truly hamstring them in terms of what they could do next year especially in staying within the 40M mark, which you know they want to do to not threaten draft pool and picks. Plus I kind of like having OFs that can throw and not having teams run ruff shot around the bases with no fear. If they were truly intent on an OF you’d see them in on Martinez. It also doesn’t address the major need for a power LHR.
The problem isn’t the contract. The Dodgers can afford the contract. The problem is the Dodgers need a legitimate #2 starter and right now Verlander is not that pitcher.
The contract is a major issue. Yes the Dodgers can afford it that’s not the question. The CBA comes with major implications for going over threshold percentages. Namely those affecting draft picks and pool allocations which go into affect in 18.
Trading for JV is more about how scouts feel about the stuff and not necessarily results. If someone feels bullish about his stuff the other factors mean less. The defense behind you, the winning culture, catchers can make a tremendous difference. With Grandal and Barnes being elite framers I’d trust the Dodgers staff if they were bullish on his stuff.
If he was the Verlander of 2015 and before, the Dodgers would foot the bill, including the penalties, in a heartbeat, because he’d slot in near the top of a killer rotation and provide a bunch of insurance against Kershaw’s back problems flaring up again. What they can’t afford is to give up what it would cost them in dollars and prospects for another 4-5 man. That they don’t need even for small costs.
All that being said, the Dodgers look tremendously lefty heavy at the top of the rotation once again. If the playoffs were next week they’d be going into them with Kershaw, Wood and Hill. Less than ideal.
Incorrect. Verlander in a playoff series is exactly what LAD needs. LAD tried going cheap last year and blew it. You have no idea what kind of pitcher JV truly is and if you watched him, like I have, you would get it. He’s as tough of a competitor as there is.
Verlander may be a tough competitor but he isn’t producing top-3 starter results at the moment, and that’s what a postseason team needs.
As for last year, the Dodgers taking Hill wasn’t exactly going cheap, and he proved to be what the Dodgers needed down the stretch. They won two NLCS games. One was started Kershaw. The other by Hill. It was the bullpen that lost the NLCS.
Love Verlander if Tigers pay remaining salary this year & portions of the next 2yrs! Your other ideas=NO WAY!! And we give away mid level talent to Tigers, not what your suggesting!
Rangers are going to trade Yu Darvish and Matt Bush for Walker Buehler and Alex Verdugo
Bet they don’t
No way!! Your crazy lol never ever make that deal!
I’m very intrigued how the Tigers will blow there team up at the deadline. It could be a fairly quick turn around for this team.
I don’t think so I think it will be a long turnaround time for them. they don’t have many trade pieces with tons of trade value our young cheep talent with control.
Justin Verlander and J.D Martinez (plus at least 5mil/year on Verlander’s contract) for Alex Verdugo, Willie Calhoun, Trevor Oaks
And the team bus.
Wow! If they did that trade the Dodgers would look stupid!
Unless they win the WS. The trade for Chapman looks great, now that the Cubs won.
Mets should bite their pride and see if they could get Robles from Washington. Reed, Blevins, and Cabrera +eat the salary should gain some interest. Toss in Bruce or Lugo if you need to close the deal.
There’s no way they’re giving up Robles for non-elite rentals or guys with 1 year remaining
Based on how bad they bullpen is, getting a closer and a lefty, plus someone to fill in and back up while Turner is out (and switch hitter of the bench), it addresses a few holes. Plus, they could always sign Reed.
no
Add that to your standup routine..Mets available players= return of nobody of consequence!
Reed is set to become a free agent after this season and the Mets are going nowhere. What could possibly be their motivation for not trading him to the Nats if they make the best offer? If anything, it’s even better if the player(s) they get back help them beat Washington down the road.
Washington could end up extending him since they’ve got nothing stable in the bullpen.
Then they could use Reed to beat the Mets next year as well
The Nats could just as easilily sign him as a free agent this offseason, regardless of which team he finishes the season with. Everyday that passes the Mets look more dysfunctional and clueless.
Why is Salas even still on the Mets?
Every time he comes in he gives up 3 runs. The definition of an idiot, Terry Collins, is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
That’s is the definition of insanity sir
Verlander to the Astros makes sense. He could slide in as the #3 starter behind Keuchel and McCullers on a contending team and be a good Veteran presence.
Dodgers traded Cotton, Holmes, and Montas for Old Rich Hill and half a season of Josh Reddick so I wouldn’t be surpised if they give up some decent prospects in a Verlander/Martinez deal.
if Justin Verlander were free agent would he get more than his contract is right now? if so how much more? because that’s his Surplus value. People are severly overrating his trade value, especially since he isn’t playing well.
The A’s have been trying to showcase Doolittle and Madsen and they have responded by being ineffective this weekend. Doolittle is likely a high risk gamble due to his injury history and lack of secondary pitch. Madsen needs to pitch in a pitcher’s park to be an option in the post season.