As the Los Angeles Dodgers were looking to bolster their starting rotation at last season’s non-waiver trade deadline, one of the more prominent pitchers they were linked to was Justin Verlander. The Dodgers’ reported interest in the veteran righty dated back months before that.
While speculation ran rampant, the Dodgers meeting the Detroit Tigers’ demands and taking on Verlander’s remaining contract seemed an unlikely scenario. Sure enough, they instead acquired Yu Darvish, while Verlander later cleared revocable trade waivers and was sent to the Houston Astros.
The deal was agreed upon with seconds to spare before the deadline passed, as Verlander grappled with leaving the Tigers organization.
As fate would have it, the Dodgers and Verlander would cross paths in the World Series. And it was during one of the greatest Fall Classics that he provided reason to wonder ‘what if?’
Ten months removed from winning World Series, Verlander received a not-so-subtle reminder from The Beverly Hills Hotel of the agony he caused Dodgers fans:
Verlander was tabbed with a loss in one of his two World Series starts, and allowed a combined five runs on five hits, including two home runs, over 12 innings pitched. However, he also recorded 14 strikeouts and held the Dodgers to a .128/.186/.308 batting line in those outings.
When the 35-year-old faced Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium this season, he fired 7.2 innings of one-run ball while matching a career high with 14 strikeouts.
Although the bill Verlander received was all in good fun, the Dodgers are still searching for their first World Series in 30 years.
