ALCS brings musing of Detroit Tigers and Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander’s dominant Game 1 performance in the ALCS brings nostalgia from the past and intrigue to the future for Detroit Tigers fans

Hard to believe that a decade ago, Justin Verlander was having the same playoff success for the Detroit Tigers on their way to a World Series appearance. Verlander, 39, showed no signs of wear in Game 1 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees; pitching Wednesday night to a final line of 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K.

The performance reminded me of his Game 5 ALDS performance against the Oakland A’s in a winner-take-all, complete-game effort in which he struck out 11 in a shutout. The Tigers, of course, would navigate their way through the Yankees in the ALCS before getting bounced by the San Fransisco Giants in the World Series in 2012.

As much as it forces some to daydream about past years, though, it’s equally interesting when looking at the Detroit Tigers and how Justin Verlander could fit into their plans. Verlander, who will turn 40 before the start of the 2023 season, has a $25 million player option for the year, which many feel he is on track to decline.

We have written these same articles a year ago at the site, certainly, but Verlander might be an even better fit for the Tigers in 2023. Aside from his obvious familiarity with the organization and his love for Detroit itself, Hinch and Verlander have experience together from his days in Houston.

From a needs perspective, too, the fit is logical. The Detroit Tigers will be without Casey Mize for a good portion of 2023 as he underwent Tommy John surgery, and there is a possibility that Tarik Skubal misses a part of the season, too. Verlander would present a veteran, workhorse presence to accompany young starters like Matt Manning, Alex Faedo, Beau Brieske, and Joey Wentz.

Between Verlander, Rodriguez, and Turnbull, the rotation would have a nice mix with veteran arms at the top and youngsters to round it out.

There is another new layer to the fit, though. New president of baseball operations Scott Harris, as many have detailed, helped to build the 107-win 2021 San Fransisco Giants’ rotation and did so on short-term deals. Kevin Gausman was signed to a one-year, $9 million deal; Alex Wood was a one-year, $3 million pickup; Anthony DeSclafani was a 3 year, $36 million pact, while the other two slots in their rotation were a homegrown starter (Logan Webb) and a player who had already been signed long-term in the past (Johnny Cueto).

Assuming Harris shares this affection with shorter-term contracts for pitchers, it would fit fantastically with what Verlander would likely command on the open market, and would afford Mize and Skubal to slow their respective recovery rolls.

The need for the Detroit Tigers makes sense from nearly every angle, but it remains to be seen if Verlander shares the same burn as fans do to see him back in the Olde English D. Verlander, as he nears the end of his career, undoubtedly wants to play for a contender, and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if Verlander needed some level of commitment before he signed that the club was interested in making a push in a wide-open AL Central division.