Justin Verlander Trade Talks Reportedly Involve Cubs, Dodgers

MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Monday that the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs have been engaged in trade talks involving starting pitcher Justin Verlander and catcher Alex Avila.

Verlander would be the second big-name pitching acquisition for the Cubs after previously landing Jose Quintana from the Chicago White Sox, but Morosi added it is unclear how much progress has been made between the Tigers and Cubbies.

In a separate report, Morosi noted that the Los Angeles Dodgers have shown interest in Verlander, and it may increase depending upon ace Clayton Kershaw's prognosis after he left Sunday's start with back tightness.

After a poor start to the season, the Cubs are on a roll, as they are 8-2 in their past 10 games and tied the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL Central lead Sunday.

The reigning World Series champions were having some issues within their starting rotation, as Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, John Lackey and Kyle Hendricks are all struggling through down years.

Quintana has been electric since arriving from the rival White Sox, and adding Verlander would give the Cubs even more pitching depth.

The 34-year-old righty is having a tough year in his own right, as he is just 5-7 with a 4.54 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 111 strikeouts in 117 innings.

In 2016, however, the six-time All-Star finished second in the American League Cy Young voting with an AL-leading 254 strikeouts and 1.00 WHIP to go along with a 16-9 record and 3.04 ERA.

After a down 2016 with the Chicago White Sox, Avila returned to the Tigers, and he is having a resurgent campaign with a .282 batting average, 11 home runs and 30 RBI.

In the wake of trading Miguel Montero to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Cubs could benefit from an experienced backup catcher behind Willson Contreras.

Per Spotrac, Verlander has two years remaining on his contract at $28 million per season beyond 2017, and a vested option for 2020 if he finishes in the top five in Cy Young voting in 2019.

Avila would be a pure rental, though, as he is set to hit free agency during the offseason.

Savvy trades for relievers Aroldis Chapman and Mike Montgomery helped fuel Chicago's World Series run last season, and another big deal could go a long way toward drawing the Cubs closer to the MLB-best Dodgers.