Justin Verlander gives Tiger Fans heart attacks

**ROMAD1** · 02-13-2013, 11:02 AM

Will it be Clayton Kershaw or Justin Verlander who signs first $200 million pitching contract? - MLB News | FOX Sports on MSN

**Walt** · 02-13-2013, 11:19 AM

Morosi was going on about how JV feels like part of Detroit and wants to stay with one team for his career just prior to this. He is just recycling the same material into another article to get pageclicks.

**ben9753** · 02-13-2013, 11:33 AM

If Pujols could leave St. Louis, anybody can leave any city. He was more a part of that city and team than either Verlander or Cabrera is to the Tigers and Detroit.

**John_Brian_K** · 02-13-2013, 12:54 PM

It is an absolute gamble.

The best thing we can hope for (really IMO) is that JV is pedestrian this year, but still good and decides to sign an extension at the end of next year at a reduced rate.

JV could gamble that this year will be just as good as the last 2 and sign a RIDICULOUS deal in 2015 if it is.

or

JV could gamble that this year will be just as good as the last 2 and sign a pedestrian deal in 2015 if it is not.

He has to hedge his bet between the two. If he takes an extension now (not sure if they are even talking about it or not) is the difference between that and what he would get if he has normal years the next 2?

**alwaysthrowheat** · 02-13-2013, 01:22 PM

If the Tigers give him 6 years on top of his current 2/40 deal at 160 MM, do you really think he goes somewhere for the extra potential 20-30MM? That's silly.

**ROMAD1** · 02-13-2013, 03:13 PM

Pay the man...make him a franchise fixture.

**ballmich** · 02-13-2013, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by alwaysthrowheat

If the Tigers give him 6 years on top of his current 2/40 deal at 160 MM, do you really think he goes somewhere for the extra potential 20-30MM? That's silly.

I would, and I'm a die hard Tigers fan. $20-30 million, that's a lot of money. Certainly more than enough to risk injury for over the next two seasons prior to free agency.

**hammb** · 02-13-2013, 04:36 PM

Personally I think Verlander & Cabrera are the two players I'd go above and beyond what seems rational to sign. I don't even care if it somewhat limits our ability to sign other FAs in the future. These guys are both future HoF talents that have played their primes in Detroit. Pay them to play out the rest of their careers (or the bulk of them) in Detroit. Then build them a couple statues in the RCF area and be done with it.

To me those two guys are worth going to the ball park for, they're worth buying merchandise for, and they're worth telling my future kids about. They ARE worth way more to Detroit than their on field accomplishments would dictate, IMO.

**mtdman** · 02-13-2013, 04:44 PM

Hopefully Mike wraps him up in the next year or so while he's still around. No way Illitch lets Verlander go anywhere. He'll get paid.

**Sports_Freak** · 02-13-2013, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by ben9753

If Pujols could leave St. Louis, anybody can leave any city. He was more a part of that city and team than either Verlander or Cabrera is to the Tigers and Detroit.

The problem may have been St. Louis refusing to pay Albert for all he would continue to do (?) and had done for them. The Cards took a huge PR hit losing him. I would hope Verlander gives the Tigers a chance to come close to whatever he's offered.

Originally Posted by alwaysthrowheat

If the Tigers give him 6 years on top of his current 2/40 deal at 160 MM, do you really think he goes somewhere for the extra potential 20-30MM? That's silly.

6 years at $160 million would be $26.6 a year. Nice start, but if King Felix is worth $25 million per year in 2013, how much would Verlander be worth in Jan or Feb of 2016? $30 million a year?

Originally Posted by ballmich

I would, and I'm a die hard Tigers fan. $20-30 million, that's a lot of money. Certainly more than enough to risk injury for over the next two seasons prior to free agency.

If the Tigers were to offer him 6 years at $160 million right now, I would hope Justin would take it. The Tigers would be taking a big risk and Verlander wouldn't have to worry about it during the actual season(s).

**Turnbuckle** · 02-13-2013, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by hammb

Personally I think Verlander & Cabrera are the two players I'd go above and beyond what seems rational to sign. I don't even care if it somewhat limits our ability to sign other FAs in the future. These guys are both future HoF talents that have played their primes in Detroit. Pay them to play out the rest of their careers (or the bulk of them) in Detroit. Then build them a couple statues in the RCF area and be done with it.

To me those two guys are worth going to the ball park for, they're worth buying merchandise for, and they're worth telling my future kids about. They ARE worth way more to Detroit than their on field accomplishments would dictate, IMO.

I'm scared of us doing this but I agree with you completely. Flags fly forever, but statues also stand the test of time. Verlander being sort of homegrown makes me feel that way just a little bit more than Cabrera, but both are players I would like to play out their careers as Tigers...or at least play out their useful years.

**Casimir** · 02-13-2013, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by hammb

Personally I think Verlander & Cabrera are the two players I'd go above and beyond what seems rational to sign. I don't even care if it somewhat limits our ability to sign other FAs in the future. These guys are both future HoF talents that have played their primes in Detroit. Pay them to play out the rest of their careers (or the bulk of them) in Detroit. Then build them a couple statues in the RCF area and be done with it.

To me those two guys are worth going to the ball park for, they're worth buying merchandise for, and they're worth telling my future kids about. They ARE worth way more to Detroit than their on field accomplishments would dictate, IMO.

I agree completely about Verlander.

Cabrera is a tougher one for me because of Fielder's contract and the fact that both may end up needing to play DH at the same time in the future. Cabrera I suspect can outlast Fielder defensively, and my concern may end up being a moot point. I certainly wouldn't be adverse to extending Cabrera, but I would be more mindful of his contract than I would Verlander.

**alwaysthrowheat** · 02-14-2013, 02:21 AM

Originally Posted by ballmich

I would, and I'm a die hard Tigers fan. $20-30 million, that's a lot of money. Certainly more than enough to risk injury for over the next two seasons prior to free agency.

Of course 20-30MM is a lot of money, compared to having 0. 220-230 compared to 200 isn't a big difference.