He is asking for anther year on his contract to make it a six year deal in the neighborhood of $90 million.
Verlander posted a career high 19 wins last year, but as with all stats they can be deceiving. many probably have forgotten or don't want to remember that last season.
For example, the winner of any overtime game just easily could have been the loser. At that point luck has crept into the equation. True a win is still a win, but it could have just as easily wound up in the other column.
Verlander's 19 is the same thing.
People forget that his 19-9 record could have easily mirrored his 2008 record of 11-17 with an ERA of almost 5 and only one complete game pitched. We fall in love with one "above average" season and are willing to bet the farm on the future.
True it was a good year but it could just as easily been a mediocre one as well.
Several of those 19 wins were luck, and nothing more. Depending on what inning you get pulled out of the game has much to do with it.
So let's not get all starry eyed. He's a good pitcher, if the Tigers don't sign him they will find somebody else of his caliber no problem. It's not going to be the end of the world.
For anybody interested in remembering exactly how Verlander's season went last year take a listen to Denny McLain's Tiger's Report and you will have a week by week break down of the Tigers season last year.
As with sports today, the chance of Verlander being here at the end of his new contract are slim to none. He's not asking for anything too extravagant in today's market so give it to him and be done with it.
But, if he balks too much, as with every working man and woman...there's always somebody that can take your place.
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