It really bothers me to see not just here, but also at other Tigers news media and blogger sites the amount of Tigers fans who would want to see Justin Verlander traded.
The Tigers just might do that unfortunately, because in my lifetime and just before starting with Hal Newhouser's Tigers career, they have not had a great pitcher finish his career with the Tigers.
Go ahead and think about those pitchers, ok I will list them for you;
Newhouser, Bunning, Lolich, McLain, Morris, every one of them was traded, or not re-signed and unable to finish their career with the Tigers.
They were unable to become the all-time wins leader in Tigers history,
and become the first Tigers pitcher with 3,000 or more Strikeouts.
Justin Verlander has a good chance to be that pitcher in Tigers history.
Verlander has been with the team longer than any other player on the team since 2005, longer than Miggy.
JV has been facing the Number 1 starter of opposing teams for the better part of his career. That means going up against the ace of the opponent.
Many times, he leaves a game, for a no decision due to lack of run support, or leaves with the lead, only to have the bullpen blow it.
Verlander salary is high for a pitcher, well so are the salaries of other teams aces. Again, they are paid for what they have done, not the future, GM's and ownership know that in many instances a player will be paid alot on a contract that went a year longer than it should have. So don't go there....
After this season, the payroll drops, yes the payroll is still high for the 5 or 6 players on contract for 2018, but a significant drop from this and previous year(s).
Verlander and Miggy need to finish their careers as Tigers for the fan base,
and marketing, which includes ticket sales to see them as they get close, tie and pass team and mlb records, memorabilia of all sorts not just uniforms with their names on them.
I don't know how else to say/post it.
I want to see and hope Verlander stays a Tiger and passes old time Tigers pitcher and Ty Cobb's teammate, Hooks Dauss' (223) in career wins as a Tiger, and passes Mickey Lolich (2,679) in Strikeouts on his way to over 3,000 wearing the English D.