[TheMoneyShot]

Justin Verlander said this weekend that if he and the team can’t hammer out a deal by Wednesday, discussions will be shut down so he can concentrate on pitching. Noble, but also not a good sign for the Tigers. JV can’t hit the open market. He’s indicated he might like to, how can you blame him? It would be nice to be wined and dined. For a competitive guy like Verlander, it might be too tantalizing to resist. A giant contract might shut that down, and that needs to be done today.
It won’t be the Tigers without Verlander. Not anymore. This city has drawn a circle around its ace; he’s become something bigger than baseball. He’s the biggest, most talented name in Detroit sports and to allow him to leave will leave a Florida sized sinkhole in our collective unconscious. It’s hard to watch all 162 games, everyone misses a few, but you never miss a JV start. It’s must see TV that you talk about with your friends afterward. We pump our collective fist because he dated Kate Upton, we connected to that in a way that no one can articulate, but it’s there.
He’s the best pitcher in the game and he’s in his prime. Verlander’s commitment to the game and his youth mean his prime could last a long time; this show doesn’t have to leave town for years. We can circle those starts for summers far into the distant future and plan barbecues with Dickerson and Price turned up loud, because maybe this is the day that he throws a no hitter. You’ll miss that when it’s gone.
Some people in the fan base seem at peace with letting Verlander walk, citing some ineffectiveness in the World Series. Those people are out of their minds, and should be dismissed as such. The Tigers don’t get to the World Series without him. This nonsense about him not being a big game picture should be dismissed as fodder for the corner of the internet powered by sugar and the part of a brain that hates.
Tigers fans never learn their lesson, success spoils them. Apparently they don’t remember the sting of watching Jack Morris win two World Series after they dismissed him from the Tigers. The first one was tough to watch and the second was torturous, as the Tigers finished second to last in the AL East that year. Fans who shrug at the prospect of Verlander walking out the door need to understand that he will be painful to watch from afar, forcing you to wonder what could have been.
In the next twenty-four hours, you hope a deal gets done. If not, next year will be a circus. If JV hits the open market, the team might not be able to retain him. The offers from Verlander will be lavish and aggressive, teams enriched with local TV deals will salivate at the chance to wrap themselves around the best pitcher in baseball and the Tigers could be left in the dust by the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs or Rangers. Or the Angels or Phillies or any other team that could become instant World Series contenders with JV on the mound. Tigers fans will be welcome to order the MLB package if they want the same access to the best show in baseball next year. He’ll become associated with another team and another city, maybe he will remember his time here fondly. He can choose what cap he wears in the Hall of Fame.
Pay him. Pay him within the next couple of hours. This isn’t a negotiation, this where you answer the demands. JV is within his rights to be the highest paid player in baseball; he’s worked hard to earn it. He’s a point of pride in a city that has long been bereft of any pride at all. Don’t negotiate. Ask him. What does he want, then write the check without question. If you could give Anibal Sanchez that kind of cheddar, you can hook up JV. King Felix’s contract dropped jaws, top it and sign JV. It will be bargain basement compared to what he commands on the open market.
Bite the bullet, take your medicine, do your homework and eat your peas. Pay JV so that this city can look forward to his starts for calendars in the future. Ignore the crazies that say he isn’t worth it; their opinion is always the same on everything anyway.

From CBS Detroit

[TheMoneyShot]

Any idea what is worth is??? Love to hear some numbers. 225 million?

[Marigold HD]

He won't perform as well on another team.

[EXhoosier10]

probably worth close to $1billion

[BigDaddy]

how about you win a penetrating world series game before you demand to be paid the highest of anyone.

i love the tigers (went to game 3 of world series last year)

but i get sick of these athletes that demand high $

that have never won anything.

[keyboarding]

how about you win a penetrating world series game before you demand to be paid the highest of anyone.

i love the tigers (went to game 3 of world series last year)

but i get sick of these athletes that demand high $

that have never won anything.

He can't pitch every inning of every game and pinch hit and run for every batter and field every position.

It's a team sport, you pay the player, not what his team has done with him on the roster.

[stevenash]

As much as I love Verlander, you can get a solid infielder, a solid starter, a good prospect, and maybe other goodies with the money you save by letting him go.

Now here's the tricky part.

JV hasn't missed a start in the last seven years, he guarantees you 240 innings a year, every year. He guarantees you at least 18 wins a year, not maybe 18 wins, guarantees you 18 wins, not to mention a sub 3 ERA and a WH/IP like 1.10, and he's a 3:1 ratio control freak to boot.

Those type of inning eating pitchers went out of style when Jim Palmer, and Tom Seaver.

JV's last two seasons have been much better than his last two prior to that.

He's only 29, so he's got 5 more seasons + of dominance.

So, what you going to do?
Considering he's not able to walk until 2015 (he'll be 31 then)he's going to get 20 mil this year and next (that's his contract), if he makes his usual 33 starts per year, wins his 19 with his usual stingy numbers, then I offer JV 4 years (lock him up until 35 years old) Moose pitched until almost 40 and he rarely misses starts (not saying Mussina is Verlander) and 100 million.

If Verlander balks at a 4 year 100 million contract, part ways, put the 100 million in prospects and other players.

Know this, when it's all said and done, Verlander will be mentioned in the same breath as Pedro and Maddux.

[boeing power]

We will take him in Toronto.

We could slot him in as 5th starter on our all star team.

[Killer_Demo]

Guy is a proven Loser. Pablo lit his ass up like a blunt last WS

[stevenash]

We will take him in Toronto.

We could slot him in as 5th starter on our all star team.

I like what Toronto did too this winter, but let's not get overly giddy, you guys still have some question marks.
But yeah, if I was a Jay fan, I'd buy myself a ten pack of game tickets, they will entertain and compete this season.

[stevenash]

Guy is a proven Loser. Pablo lit his ass up like a blunt last WS

But made the Yankee lineup cry.
Proven loser? Little over the top there pal.

[Killer_Demo]

But made the Yankee lineup cry.
Proven loser? Little over the top there pal.

All he could do was when that 2nd pablo HR went over..that was a great moment

[stevenash]

All he could do was when that 2nd pablo HR went over..that was a great moment

Crushed it.
Now I am reading Buster wants stoooopid cash money.
Got to be careful with catchers.

[You mad bro]

gonna come to the yankees .. you know theyll be able to spend eventually

[Killer_Demo]

Crushed it.
Now I am reading Buster wants stoooopid cash money.
Got to be careful with catchers.

Giants would be nuts not to give buster 100+ million next contact guy is the best catcher in baseball

[You mad bro]

Giants would be nuts not to give buster 100+ million next contact guy is the best catcher in baseball

if big joe from minny could ever stay healthy theyd be the best 1-2 catchers in baseball .. cant trust mauer though . so i agree with buster being the best catcher now

[vyomguy]

he will get paid more than 25 million per year.

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

I think he's going to New York, I don't think Kate Upton likes Detroit

[BigDaddy]

He can't pitch every inning of every game and pinch hit and run for every batter and field every position.

It's a team sport, you pay the player, not what his team has done with him on the roster.

he was the only pitcher that did not show up last year for the WS

i love JV

dont take my posts the wrong way but i would just like to see these guys win before they demand the big $$

that is all

[Big Bear]

its the nature of the game man. i learned at a young age not to get attached to players.

it ripped my heart out when the Braves let Deion Sanders go,

i've hated Braves ever since.

[TheMoneyShot]

One thing I find interesting. Verlander turns 30 this year. I believe. If he was 24 with all of these credentials... pay the man. But once you hit early 30's... your body changes. 3 solid seasons left... that's about it. Detroit fans will be pissed if they let him go.

[Deuce]

I think he's going to New York, I don't think Kate Upton likes Detroit

She is from Michigan, dummy.

[TheMoneyShot]

5 Years 180 Million Wow!

[TheMoneyShot]

36 Million a year to pitch!!!

[Ratpack]

26 million a year you mean

[stevenash]

She is from Michigan, dummy.

Not only is she from Michigan I believe they are not a couple anymore.

[I/O]

Mike Ilitch still trying to buy a World Series

not gonna happen

again

[MUHerd37]

His entire career will be a Tiger

[OMGRandyJackson]

Wish I saw this earlier, no way JV would leave. He loves Detroit and they love him. After nabbing fielder, there is no way theyd let Verlander walk unless his demands were legit crazy. His demands werent. He got paid, what he deserves.

[Deuce]

Mike Ilitch still trying to buy a World Series

not gonna happen

again

Buy paying a player they drafted what he deserves?

[I/O]

Buy paying a player they drafted what he deserves?

You're correct. I'll change it. Ilitch still throwing big money into a payroll with high priced talent to buy a World Series. Very Yankee-like and will still be unsuccessful.

[SteelRain]

insane to pay a pitcher that much guy could easily regress

[Deuce]

You're correct. I'll change it. Ilitch still throwing big money into a payroll with high priced talent to buy a World Series. Very Yankee-like and will still be unsuccessful.

Cabrera Fielder Verlander? Hunter?

Who else? Infante? Jackson? Avila?

Team isn't the phillies, pal.

[OMGRandyJackson]

insane to pay a pitcher that much guy could easily regress

Welcome to the MLB. If the Tigers didn't, there would easily be 10 teams lining right up.

[I/O]

Cabrera Fielder Verlander? Hunter?

Who else? Infante? Jackson? Avila?

Team isn't the phillies, pal.

Well you get close to 100 million right there on those 4 for this season.

I said nothing about the Phillies

pal

But their payroll should be in the top 4 or 5 at this point...and they have/will have trouble winning the weakest division in baseball let alone the World Series

pal