Yankees: Making the unpopular case for getting Justin Verlander

Any talk about the Yankees making a run for a 34-year-old pitcher with a 5-6 record this year, who is engaged to a drop-dead beautiful model and carries a $100 million price tag is insane. Not so fast……….

The Yankees, presumably, are still in the hunt for a quality starting pitcher who can settle in as their number one guy in the rotation. With Jose Quintana now off the board, I made the argument earlier today that the Yankees should make a stellar effort to land Oakland A’s starter, Sonny Gray.

And I still believe that Gray has the most upside of any pitcher who’s supposedly in the marketplace today. But Justin Verlander, despite all of the above, deserves a good and also look as that one guy who can put the team over the top, not only this year but for the next two or three seasons as well.

Let’s begin with the man behind the arm. Verlander bounced back from an injury prone season in 2015 when he made only 20 starts for the Tigers (5-8, 3.38) to a 2016 season in which a Cy Young was stolen from him by a journeyman pitcher, Rick Porcello, compiling a 16-9 record, while leading the league in strikeouts (254) and WHIP (1.001).

Verlander is 34. So what, his body is not. He keeps himself fit, and no one works harder at his craft than he does.

Verlander explains it better himself, telling the Detroit News:

"“I don’t think anybody should take any of this for granted,” he said, flipping through his cherry wood locker. “At the same time I’ve worked very hard for this.“I don’t try to shove my work ethic in people’s face, but I think, to a large extent, that’s why I’m here.”"

That’s what they call responsibility and, sadly, it’s lacking throughout a good portion of baseball today, even on the Yankees staff without naming names.

This one’s all about money

For both the Yankees and Tigers, this deal would be all about the money Verlander is due to earn before his contract expires in 2020.

Unlike the White Sox who were looking for prospects in exchange for their ace, the Tigers will settle for a couple of mid-level prospects plus relief on a good portion, or even all, of the money due to Verlander.

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It’s a given that J.D. Martinez will be dealt in the next week or two by the Tigers for the same reason, which is to ensure they under the luxury cap for next season.

For the Yankees, it’s a question of whether or not they want to part with some of the money they print every day. Unlike his dad who first looked for Championships and didn’t mind spending his own money to win them, Hal Steinbrenner is either more fiscally responsible or cheap depending on your politics.

But he also listens closely to his GM, Brian Cashman, who with his recent track record of making excellent deals, could make the sale for Verlander if he chose to do so.

A deal made for Broadway

With a superstar model and fiance, Kate Upton and Justin Verlander are made to order for New York City and Broadway.

(Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Wins For Warriors Foundation) /

Verlander has never pitched on the big stage, and outside of Detroit, he is a virtual unknown as one of the top five pitchers in the major leagues today with a career record of 178-112 and 2300 strikeouts, having led the league four times in that category and three times in innings pitched.

Once again, the word responsible comes into play, and they are not the kind of couple who seek the spotlight. Instead, the spotlight comes to them.

They are made for New York, and New York is made for them.

NEXT POST: MAKING THE CASE FOR “MYSTERY MAN”, SONNY GRAY

If the Yankees are serious about not only making the playoffs but making some noise once they get there, Verlander is the man who can do it for them. And finally, the Yankees would have a verifiable ace.

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