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The Chicago Cubs have inquired to the Detroit Tigers about possible deals for 2011 AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander and veteran catcher Alex Avila, according to MLB reporter Jon Morosi.
After having an unbelievable starting rotation in 2016, the Cubs have struggled greatly to get any consistency from their starting five this year. Despite some great outings from Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta as of late, the rotation has not lived up to expectations, ranking seventh in the National League with a 4.47 ERA. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have said several times that pitching would be at the top of their list at the trade deadline and desirably acquiring a pitcher under contract for the next several years would be the most ideal.
Verlander, 34, is having a rough year for the Tigers, putting up a 4.96 ERA and 1.52 WHIP. The six-time All-Star is signed through 2019, with an option for the 2020 season. Verlander will make $28 million in each of the next two years. Despite the down first half, Verlander is coming off an impressive 2016 season, when he had a 3.04 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, with 254 strikeouts in 227.2 innings. He’s made at least 30 starts in 10 of the last 11 seasons and is on pace to reach that feat once again in 2017.
To put it nicely, John Lackey has been terrible for the Cubs this year and Joe Maddon has been without Kyle Hendricks for several weeks now. Hendricks won’t return until after the All-Star break and Eddie Butler hasn’t taken advantage of his opportunity. The Cubs need help in the rotation and Verlander is on their radar, although no actual trade negotiations have started.
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#Cubs inquired to #Tigers on availability of Justin Verlander and Alex Avila, sources say, but sides have not engaged in trade negotiations.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 4, 2017
Morosi also reports that the Cubs had a scout in Detroit for Verlander’s last start against the Cleveland Indians.
#Cubs had a scout in attendance Sunday in Detroit, when Verlander gave up 7 earned runs in 3-1/3 innings. @MLBNetwork @MLB #Tigers
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 4, 2017
As far as the interest for Avila, he was immediately rumored to be a target for the Cubs after Miguel Montero was DFA’d. Avila, 30, is having a great comeback season after his stint with the White Sox last year. The catcher has a .310/.431/.571 slash line in 58 games. The left-handed hitter has 11 home runs in 168 at-bats.
The Cubs have Willson Contreras, who has been amazing behind the plate, but after trading Montero to the Toronto Blue Jays, a spot is open on the team for another catcher.
Again, the Cubs have only asked about Verlander and Avila, without actually engaging in trade discussions with the Tigers. However, Epstein has shown to strike early in the trade market, so keep an eye out for a possible move for a catcher or a starting pitcher. Pitching especially because after this season, Lackey and Arrieta will be free agents and most likely won’t be back with the Cubs. The rotation will look a lot different and that could be as early as the middle of this month.
Oh by the way, getting Verlander in a trade is only secondary to having Kate Upton come to Chicago too.
