The Los Angeles Dodgers have a need in their starting rotation early into free agency, and if they have their sights set on Justin Verlander, they’ll most likely have to offer up a contract a similar power right-hander received last winter.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman already watched Tyler Anderson decline the $19.65 million qualifying offer for 2023 and quickly agree to a deal worth $39 million over three years with the Los Angeles Angels. The Dodgers reportedly weren’t willing to extend their offer to include the third year to Anderson, which ultimately was a deciding factor in losing out on a key piece to their rotation.
Meanwhile, Verlander won his third Cy Young Award in unanimous fashion, and after opting out the final year of his contract with the Houston Astros, is now on the open market.
Astros owner Jim Crane hinted that Verlander would still like to be paid similarly to the contract Max Scherzer signed with the New York Mets, via Brian McTaggart of MLB.com:
Crane said Verlander is seeking a deal similar to Max Scherzer, who signed a three-year, $130 million contract with the Mets a year ago. Crane said he hopes the absence of a state income tax in Texas will give the Astros an edge.
The 39-year-old went 18-4 with an MLB-best 1.75 ERA, 2.49 FIP and 0.83 WHIP in 175 innings, while recording 175 strikeouts over 28 starts.
A three-year deal for Verlander would push him into his age-43 season at the end of the contract, but the Dodgers’ willingness to pursue short-term high average annual value deals could make this an attractive option. The club has current payroll flexibility makes them a serious player in any top free-agent pool.
Verlander negotiated his most recent contract with the Astros, and dating back to the 2017 midseason trade deadline, there was mutual interest in bringing him out West to the Dodgers.
Dodgers attempted to sign Justin Verlander following the 2021 season
Before he ultimately signed with the Astros last season on a one-year deal following Tommy John surgery, Verlander drew reported interest from the Dodgers and many others following a stellar performance in a throwing showcase.
Now that he has another year under his belt and more hardware in the case, Verlander has all of the negotiating power he needs to cash in on his next deal.
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