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

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.

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.

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.

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.