Tigers and Verlander Talking Long Term

Even with a payroll crunch the Detroit Tigers are playing it smart and trying to lock up starting pitcher Justin Verlander long term. Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports say the two sides are working on a five-year deal with a price tag of around $75 million. The main complication in a deal is that Verlander wants a sixth year added, where the Tigers would want a sixth year as a club option.

In the grand scheme of things I think the disagreement of a sixth year is going to be a small complication. General Manager Dave Dombrowski is serious about keeping the ace long term, while Verlander is about his money.

Here’s why it seems like a minor complication.

One, the Tigers are in serious predicament where they’re trying to shed salary while improving the team. They traded Curtis Granderson to the Yankees for almost nothing just to shed some, and they’re still looking at more players. But yet Dombrowski is still willing to hand out a big extension to a player that is surely worthy.

Second, Verlander on the other hand wants his money, he asked for more money in arbitration $9.5 million then anyone thought he would (except for me). I actually thought he’d ask for more then that, I figured in the $12-15 million range, using the Josh Johnson and Felix Hernandez extensions as a benchmark. He made $3.675 million in his first year of arbitration so he’s looking to triple his salary. So yea, that tells me he’s a guy all about getting his due.

So, yea if the two sides can figure out the sixth year both sides would be happy. Five years, $75 million would equate to an average of $15 million per season (more then enough to make Justin very happy). That’s slightly lower then what King Felix just signed for and a tad more then Johnson’s deal. Numbers that make sense for a young veteran pitcher whose proven to be a workhorse in his brief career.

Both sides are probably going to argue a little over the sixth year but as the arbitration date comes near I think they’ll wise up. Something as small as a club option shouldn’t get in the way of getting a deal done. In my opinion, Verlander will either sign for six year and about $90 million OR the two sides agree to a five year deal, worth the $75 million and no option year.

So, in the end Tigers fans will be happy and at least have a glimmer of hope.