Chicago Cubs Rumors: Justin Verlander's name continues to pop up

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BOSTON, MA – JUNE 10: Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers delivers in the first inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 10, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Despite plenty of questions, the Chicago Cubs and Justin Verlander continue to be linked in reports and rumors as we near the July 31 trade deadline.

With just days left before the midseason trade deadline, the Chicago Cubs and Justin Verlander continue to be tied together in rumors. The validity of such reports remains to be seen, but it’s certainly worthwhile regardless.

If the Cubs pulled off a deal, they’d jump to the top of World Series predictions odds almost immediately. A rotation of Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Jose Quintana, Justin Verlander and Kyle Hendricks can go toe-to-toe with any in baseball.

The best part?

All of those names remain under team control past 2017. Combined with Chicago’s young position player core, it’s an enviable situation moving forward.

For now, though, they’re just rumors. Let’s dig in a little deeper on the latest reports tying the reigning World Series champs to the Detroit right-hander.

CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 02: President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs Theo Epstein reacts after the Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in Game Seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field on November 2, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cubs win their first World Series in 108 years. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

It’s all about the money

Over the next two years, the Tigers owe Verlander a tidy sum of $56 million. And, given the return Detroit seeks, the Cubs are reluctant to pick up that tab. It’s hard to blame the front office on that one, either.

If you’re eating that kind of money (while obviously getting value), also trading top talent seems to be a steep price. But, then again, the former MVP and Cy Young winner did finish second in Cy Young voting just last season. he also led the American League in strikeouts.

According to Bob Nightengale, there are still reservations for the North Siders in a Verlander deal.

The #Cubs remain team most interested in Justin Verlander, but his contract is stumbling block. #Tigers could find more takers this winter.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 26, 2017

Yes, there’s interest. You’d be crazy to not have at least some level of intrigue here. His exploits speak for themselves. Led the league in strikeouts four different times. He pitched the most innings on three separate occasions. Five times, he’s finished in the top five in Cy Young voting at season’s end.

Acquiring a pitcher isn’t always about what he’s done in the past. At least not in instances like this. It’s far from the main factor. What lies ahead is the more pertinent question.

PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 09: Starting pitcher Justin Verlander #35 (R) of the Detroit Tigers watches from the dugout alongside Miguel Cabrera #24 during the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 9, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Are things beginning to come apart?

Of all active big-league pitchers, Justin Verlander ranks fifth in innings pitched (2,463). He trails only CC Sabathia, Bartolo Colon, John Lackey and Felix Hernandez. Aside from Hernandez, Verlander is the youngest man on that list at just 34 years of age.

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As noted, last season, he was the Verlander of years’ past. But in 2017, he’s taken a step in the wrong direction. He owns a 4.50 ERA to go along with 4.1 BB/9 and just 8.7 K/9 in his 124 innings of work this year.

Remember how people were in a full-blown panic over Jake Arrieta‘s struggles earlier this year? Add a few years to him and pay him $28 million a year. That’s the situation Verlander finds himself in.

To be sure, he still has value. I’m not saying that Verlander is running on fumes because that’s pure speculation. He may have just struggled out of the gates.

Why would I think that?

As the Chicago Tribune points out, he has allowed more than three earned runs just one time since May 25. The velocity remains high, unlike the dip we’ve seen from Arrieta in 2017.

With at least two years of control left past this season, there is value – but also a great deal of risk.

CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 05: Albert Almora Jr. #5 of the Chicago Cubs is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field on June 5, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

Big-league talent on the move?

After trading Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease to the White Sox and sending a package to the Yankees for Aroldis Chapman last summer, the Cubs’ system doesn’t have the depth it once did.

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Now, those players occupy big-league roster spots. And if you want to pull off a deal for Justin Verlander, some of those former top talents will be on the move. Sure, Detroit wants to shed some payroll and get younger. But they aren’t going to simply give away their veteran players.

Names like Albert Almora Jr., Javier Baez and Addison Russell could all be in the mix in such a deal. The front office clearly won’t give up Kyle Schwarber and guys like Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant are untouchable. The Cubs enjoy depth superior to most big-league teams. But that doesn’t mean they’re ready to deal from this roster.

And, to be blunt, I’m not sure there’s enough left in the farm system to get a deal done. That’s not to say there isn’t talent in the minors. But the high-impact guys like Jimenez are in the low levels of the system – far from big-league ready.

Given the workload and contract, the more I think this out, the more I come to one conclusion: Chicago and Verlander are a nice idea – but only in theory. Between the dollars and sought return, working out the logistics before the deadline seems like an awfully long shot for both sides.

Next: What do Gray-Yankees rumors mean for the Cubs?

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Chicago Cubs Rumors: Justin Verlander’s name continues to pop up in reports