Just moments following the news that the Detroit Tigers had traded Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros at the 2017 MLB trade deadline, I posted an article predicting when Verlander would return to the Tigers.
My prediction was (and still is) that the Tigers will bring back Verlander prior to the start of the 2022 season.
But who cares what I think?
The Detroit Free Press recently caught up with one of Verlander’s former teammates Pudge Rodgriguez, and Pudge weighed in on the thought of Verlander coming back to the Tigers.
“Coming back to the team he grew up with?” former Tigers All-Star and Hall of Fame catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez told the Free Press on Wednesday. “That’s not a bad idea, to retire as a Tiger. That’s where he started.”
The problem is, Verlander recently had Tommy John surgery, which means he has a lot of work to do before he can pitch again.
“First of all, he needs to come back healthy,” Rodriguez said. “Tommy John surgeries always take a long time. He’s still with the Astros, and what he needs to focus on right now is to come back healthy and be the Justin Verlander that he was in the past.”
Whether or not Verlander returns to the Motor City also depends on if the Tigers feel like they are in a position to contend for the MLB Playoffs in 2022. If they feel like they could make a run, it would not be surprising at all to see the Tigers pony up some cash to bring back Verlander.
“It’s his decision,” Rodriguez said. “Obviously, I’m sure if the Tigers offer him a contract after this season, he’s going to consider it. But right now, in my opinion, he’s probably not thinking about anything. He’s thinking about getting healthy and back to the mound.”
Nation, would you like to see Justin Verlander return to the Detroit Tigers before he retires?
