Dodgers Rumors: Ranking the four pitchers most likely to be traded for
By Jason Reed
1. Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
We have already dedicated an entire article to how Justin Verlander is a perfect fit on the Dodgers, and here, we further emphasize this point. Many people shy away from the idea of Justin Verlander coming to the Dodgers. He is 34 years old, has a fairly large contract, and seemingly is only getting worse, evident by his 2017 campaign.
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However, the case for Verlander is not that black and white. This is the same pitcher that finished second in Cy Young voting last season, in which he quietly had one of the best years in baseball. Verlander’s 3.04 ERA was great, and his 254 strike outs were the second most in his career, behind his 269 strike outs in 2009.
Verlander can still toss the baseball, and while he is struggling this season, a change of scenery to Los Angeles would only help him. The NL is notorious for extending a pitcher’s career and pitching at Chavez Ravine, Verlander would see his numbers plummet.
Oh, and that big contract he has? The Dodgers would only have to pay two more years of his annual $28 million salary, three years if he finishes top five in the Cy Young voting in 2019. While that $28 million is intimidating, the Dodgers have done a great job to avoid overpaying free agents, giving the team much more wiggle room for this deal.
If the Dodgers want to make a World Series push they are going to need to bring in one more great pitcher. With the experience he has, and the new change of scenery, Justin Verlander seems to be that missing piece in LA.
Next: Cody Bellinger is the X Factor to a World Series Push
Overall, some fans may be confused about why the latest Dodgers rumors call for an addition to the rotation. As the season drags on, and we get to the grueling days of September and October, this additional arm will serve them greatly.