Chicago Cubs asked about Justin Verlander, Alex Avila availability
By Tim Boyle
Unlike last year, the Chicago Cubs will not use the trade deadline to fill various holes with small pieces. The 2017 squad needs a larger overhaul. The offense has struggled, the starting rotation has been below average, and repeating as champions looks a lot more difficult.
The Cubs are aware of their shortcomings and need to improve the roster. According to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Cubs have talked with the Detroit Tigers about the availability of starting pitcher Justin Verlander and catcher Alex Avila.
The idea of Verlander pitching beside Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester is certainly a daunting one for anyone who has to travel to Wrigley Field. The number of Cy Young votes and wins between the three is unheard of. At their best, the rotation would be near unstoppable.
Unfortunately, this season has not been a very good one for any of those three. Arrieta and Lester are a big reason the Cubs are floating around .500. Verlander has also taken a few steps back after narrowly winning the Cy Young last season. Through 17 starts in 2017, Verlander is only 5-5 with a 4.96 ERA.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
In regards to the other Tigers player they inquired about, Avila, the story is far different. Avila has shined for Detroit this season in what has been mostly a platoon situation with James McCann. In just over 200 trips to the plate, Avila is hitting .310/.430/.571 with 11 home runs. Since the Cubs recently ostracized Miguel Montero before trading him to the Toronto Blue Jays, there is an opening behind the dish in a limited role. Avila could pair nicely with Willson Contreras both on the field and as a veteran mentor.
Avila is the far more attainable player of these two as Verlander carries a big contract. The Tigers are also unwilling to sell low on their former ace. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the asking price is a big one. Per Olney, Detroit is posturing on the financial side and unwilling to eat much or any of the salary. One would have to figure this eventually changes due to Verlander’s struggles.
Taking this into account, the Tigers are quite handcuffed with how many teams they can deal with. They need a team in contention, with money, and prospects. The Cubs fit the bill as do teams like the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees. The Red Sox and Yankees haven’t been linked to Verlander in the past year, but the Dodgers have—as they always seem interested in anyone available.
The Cubs definitely need an addition to their rotation this summer and Verlander appears to give them that “three-headed monster” option. This is more reputation based. At 34, Verlander is not the pitcher he once was.
Next: Orioles continue to sabotage themselves
While the Chicago Cubs have inquired about the availability of Verlander and Avila, not much headway seems to have been made in actually striking a deal. Based on the Tigers’ supposedly high asking price, I imagine Theo Epstein finds a better option as he regularly seems to do.