At approximately 11:59pm on Thursday night, Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander was traded to the Houston Astros for three prospects, according to multiple persons with knowledge of the situation.
The two teams had talked extensively about Verlander leading up to the July 31 trade deadline and intermittently over the next month, but finally came to an agreement with less than a half hour to go before the waiver trade deadline. It was then up to Verlander to waive his full no-trade clause, which he did shortly before the 11:59pm deadline.
In exchange for Verlander, the Tigers received right-hander Franklin Perez, outfielder Daz Cameron (son of former Gold Glove outfielder Mike Cameron) and catcher Jake Rogers.
Perrez is the Astros’ third-best prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, with Cameron 9th and Rogers 11th. The Tigers are also believed to be sending at least $10 million to the Astros (via Yahoo’s Jeff Passan), with Verlander signed through 2019 with a vesting option in 2020. Verlander, 34, makes $28 million in each of the next two seasons.
The departure of Verlander means these Tigers are nearly unrecognisable. They are now a team stripped of a franchise player and are fully embracing rebuild mode, which was signalled Thursday afternoon when they traded leftfielder Justin Upton to the Los Angeles Angels.
Verlander, 34, is arguably the best Tigers right-hander of all-time. In 13 seasons with the team, he was 183-144 with a 3.49 ERA and 1.19 WHIP and six All-Star appearances. Last season, he finished second for the American League Cy Young Award and this season, he has surged in the second-half.
For the Astros, they receive a proven postseason pitcher (Verlander is 7-5 with a 3.39 ERA in 16 playoff starts) who should sit atop their starting rotation.
They are all but assured of the American League West division title and with a top-ranked farm system, could afford to part with prospects like Perez, Cameron and
Rogers.
“I think he’ll add a dimension we don’t have,” Astros owner Jim Crane told MLB.com.
“I think he’ll add a dimension in the playoffs, hopefully, when we get there. I think it’s great for the team, I think the players will be excited and fans will be excited.”
Cubs acquire Mariners OF Leonys Martin
The Cubs made a late night acquisition on Thursday before the 11pm CDT deadline, acquiring Mariners outfielder Leonys Martin and cash for a player to be named later or cash. Martin, a 29-year-old left-hander hitter from Cuba, hit .174 in 115 at-bats for Seattle this year, and .307 in Triple-A.
He spent five years with Texas and two with the Mariners and is a .248 career hitter with 38 home runs.
Martin has not yet been added to the Cubs 40-man roster, but will be eligible for the postseason when he arrives since he was in the organisation before September 1.
Martin won’t be called up on Friday, but it expected to join the Cubs soon and be employed as a spare outfielder and pinch-runner.
He cleared waivers last week after being designated for assignment by the Mariners.