Milwaukee Brewers showing interest in Justin Verlander

The Milwaukee Brewers’ search for starting pitching has reportedly included Justin Verlander. Will the Tigers actually deal the right-hander?

All signs point to the Milwaukee Brewers acting as buyers at the trade deadline, and various rumors indicate a starting pitcher is at the top of their wish list. A new report suggests they’ve been eyeing a very big name: Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander.

Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press says the Brewers have shown interest in the former MVP and Cy Young winner, though the extent of that interest and whether they have made any progress in talks with the Tigers remains unknown. Fenech confirms the Cubs are considering Verlander as well, and to a lesser extent, the Astros.

Verlander has been a popular topic in recent days as speculation mounts that the Tigers will hold a major sell-off before the deadline, including some of their more expensive veterans. (It’s something many pundits and fans expected as early as last winter.) Detroit has already shipped outfielder J.D. Martinez to the Diamondbacks, and they could look to move players who aren’t just impending free agents.

At 43-51, the Tigers don’t have much realistic hope of nabbing a playoff spot. Though their current six-game deficit in the Wild Card race isn’t exactly damning at this point in the season, they would have to jump over eight other clubs, many of which are clearly superior to them. Selling is the prudent course of action.

The Brewers were in on Jose Quintana before the division rival Cubs swooped in and completed a trade for him last week. They’ve also been linked to Sonny Gray, so we know they’re not resigning themselves to middle-of-the-rotation arms. Milwaukee’s starting pitching has been rather effective so far (4.06 ERA, good for seventh in MLB), but if the team is serious about competing in October, it could use a more traditional number-one starter.

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Jimmy Nelson (3.43 ERA) and Chase Anderson (2.89 ERA) have been pleasant surprises this year, but neither has much of a long-term track record of success, and the latter is on the DL with a left oblique strain. Rotation reinforcements seem like a good idea.

Of course, any potential deal involving Verlander comes with a series of hurdles. For one thing, he’s owed $56 million over the next two seasons and has a $22 million option that vests in 2020 if he finishes the previous year in the top five of Cy Young voting. While there have been reports that the Tigers are willing to pay some of Verlander’s remaining salary, that’s still a substantial chunk of change owed to a 34-year-old pitcher.

It’s unclear how much payroll the traditionally small-market Brewers would be willing to take on. Verlander also has a full no-trade clause, which could come into play. There has been talk that he’d waive it to go to the Dodgers, but would he extend the same courtesy to Milwaukee?

Verlander is having a disappointing season after narrowly missing out on his second Cy Young Award last year in a controversial vote. He sports a 4.54 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 2.02 K/BB ratio in 117 innings. He hasn’t lost anything in the way of velocity, but at his age you’re always going to wonder whether he’ll be able to reach that elite level again.

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That said, Verlander did post a 4.54 ERA in 2014 and proceeded to enjoy two quality campaigns afterward, so he’s bounced back from seeming decline before.

While the Tigers are clearly open for business, trading Verlander still feels like a long shot due to a variety of factors. However, the Brewers’ interest does give us yet another sign that they aim to be active players in the starting pitching market.

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