The Detroit Tigers are heading for a schism with their two-time Cy Young Tarik Skubal next offseason, meaning this is probably their last season to truly contend. With that in mind, they need to make some moves to really give their team a fighting chance.
Fansided’s Christopher Kline believes that the Tigers will reunite with an old legend, and predicts they will sign MVP and three-time Cy Young Justin Verlander. Verlander proved he still has gas in the tank last season, and could be a decent No. 2 pitcher to Skubal’s No. 1.
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“This feels right, no? Justin Verlander, to his credit, made 29 starts in his age-42 season with the Giants. He was solid on the whole, and better than that down the stretch. Expectations need to be thoroughly tempered at this point, but if any team should be anxious to see if the three-time Cy Young winner has enough gas in the tank for one final run, it's the Detroit Tigers. It would be a fitting bookend to a Hall of Fame career, and provide Detroit with needed rotation depth. And that's before we even reach a Tarik Skubal resolution,” Kline wrote.
This past season, Verlander posted a 4-11 record, a 3.85 ERA, 137 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.362 over 152 innings pitched. However, he showed everyone he’s still an ace in the second half, where he posted a 2.60 ERA over those starts.
Going back to where it started might help Verlander keep that second-half juice for a whole season. Plus, he’s only projected to receive a one-year, $7.8 million dollar deal, which wouldn't hurt Detroit’s pockets at all.
Hopefully, the Tigers see this as a good way to repay their old legend, and give Skubal at least some help for one last playoff run.
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