Chicago Cubs: Better options loom over Justin Verlander

Asking price

Initial reports indicate the Tigers are asking the farm for their ace.

While you can sometimes chalk up one bad season, or in this case, half season, to tough luck or what have you, Verlander’s numbers have simply regressed to the point that you balk at the Tigers asking price.

Not only that, the Cubs, in particular, are in need of young pitchers. Signed through 2019, Verlander represents a veteran on the wrong side of 30. Verlander is 34 years old and making $28 million this season. Plus, he has a 2020 vesting option for $22 million if he finishes top five in the 2019 Cy Young voting.

Maybe he will figure it out before the season is over. Or maybe a change of scenery is what ails the ace.

However, the current 2017 numbers don’t lie, and that’s a lot of if’s to wonder.

Bottom line, there’s going to have to be some kind of bend from the Tigers’ perspective before any real trade dialogue with any team is discussed.

The Cubs are not giving up prized prospects, either in the minors or at the major league level, especially for an aging star, who you don’t know what to expect from anymore, regardless of his track record.

CBS Detroit mentioned the names Javier Baez or Ian Happ. A hard no.