According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the defending World Series Champion Chicago Cubs are still interested in acquiring Justin Verlander from the Detroit Tigers but there is one major problem.
It sounds like the Tigers are hoping for the Cubs to take on Verlander’s full $56 million for the 2018 and 2019 seasons but the Cubs are reluctant to pull the trigger.
Sources: #Cubs remain interested in Justin Verlander but have shown reluctance to pay full $28 million in '18 and '19. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 26, 2017
On Monday night, Verlander pitched what may very well have been his final outing as a member of the Detroit Tigers. If it was, he went out with a bang as he struck out nine batters and gave up three earned runs against the Kansas City Royals.
As he exited the game in the seventh inning, Verlander was given a standing ovation from the fans at Comerica Park. Unfortunately, the Tigers ended up losing the game 5-3 in extra innings, preventing him from picking up a win.
Following the game, J.V. talked about the possibility of being traded and also touched on the ovation he was given when he left the game.
From MLive:
“I guess there might be a fleeting moment where you say, ‘This might have been the last time,’ but it is very fleeting,” said a candid Verlander. “It is in the back of your mind that you never know what can happen. There is a moment walking off the mound you just take a second to appreciate it. I know I didn’t acknowledge it coming off the mound, probably because we are in the middle of a tie game.
“Maybe I wish I could have gone back and said thank you, but who knows, maybe there is a lot more of those to come, maybe there’s not. All I know is that I heard it, I felt it, I appreciated it.”
