Verlander is a weird guy. No, I haven't heard of Verlander leaving on bad terms at all. He has spoken highly of Jim Crane - and he is Jim Crane's favorite player in his time as an owner. However, Verlander like Crane is all business. I think where his wife wants to go will play a big part in it - and so will be the best chance to win. I think he would waive his no trade clause, but it is possible that his top choice would be another team - Verlander isn't the sentimental sort.
Yeah- I wasn't counting on sentimentality, just wondering if we would be a team that he gives a thumbs up to. i'd think he would but who knows...
I believe Houston and NY to be the only AL teams Verlander would agree to go to. I imagine he’d also accept a trade to the Dodgers, Braves, Phillies, or Giants. Maybe Toronto. Hard for me to see him agreeing to go to Cincy, Tampa, or Dallas.
The Cubs didn't trade their guys because they thought that they would work out a deal with the Astros - and there was a lot of sketchy dealings going on with that one - and ultimately Crane killed what he viewed as an over pay for players on the Cubs. Why would the Padres not sell? They believe that their run differential and talent is such that they could get super hot down the stretch. I can understand that, but they also have long term payroll issues to consider.
Toronto and San Francisco and Dallas will likely be very aggressive. What complicates this for Verlander is that he isn't a free agent at the end of the year. Wherever he agrees to go will likely be where he lives the next 30 months. He is basically 40 years old and 30 months doesn't seem long - but his wife is a decade younger than him and has a little one starting school soon - so where he agrees to go (if anywhere) will likely be more of a process than it was when he was traded to Houston (remember the Cubs were his first choice).
I think the Padres are in denial, after whooping on the Dodgers in last year’s playoff’s, I think they thought they were going to be a top 3 team in the National League. So, I think the management thinks that if they get the ship right, they are going to be really good to make up a lot of ground fast!
Those were my considerations (along with ability to win) when I put together that list. You gotta figure she can stay in NY if he goes to the Yankees, Phillies, or Blue Jays. I also assume they had plans in place for their living situation had he gone to LA/SF or stayed in Houston (since those were the other teams heavily pursuing him last offseason) so they’d be comfortable going to either of those places.
Snell and Hader old be my targets with both resigned asap and Hader takes Pressleys job in 2024 You might offer Blanco, Bielak, Gordon and Meyers for those two and still have the guys to make other trades. We need a vet bat off the bench and a OFer with Brantley up in the air
Doesn’t matter if it is a right handed bat or left-handed bat, just need someone who hits RHP well Although the more I think about it, it probably does have to be someone left-handed for Dusty to use them against RHP
There are actually rumors India has been shopped, but ONLY for controllable quality SP, so we definitely aren’t a match if they did move him
I don't know if the Astros even want Jonathan India - but the Astros have the pieces to make that type of deal happen. It is very possible that the Astros move out a younger pitcher under team control in one deal and then in a separate deal add another veteran starter. I know the Astros need starting pitching - but I would not assume there is no way the Astros move a younger starter.
My dream scenario would be Hader, Snell and Cosgrove For Blanco, Meyers, Hensley, Whitley, Leon and Shawn Dubin Doesn't hurt us to bad in a trade but still let's us move forward on another. Stroman, Madrigal and Bellinger For Julks, Kessinger, Melton, Barber and Hernandez. And last Montero, Stanek, Lee, Gordon and Gilbert For Debner and H. Davis. It's a dream but one could hope
Bonda on Twitter just said an insider told him the Astros have agreed to a deal to acquire Verlander. No trade details known as of yet. He said this insider was the same guy that told him about the Vazquez trade last year with Boston. @Nook thoughts??
