Justin Verlander Should 100% Be An Oriole By This Time Tomorrow
Let me tell you about a match made in heaven— Justin Verlander and your Baltimore Orioles.
The Mets are DOG WATER this season are selling practically anyone and anything. The Orioles are the story of the year in baseball and playing incredible right now, but what do they need? The answer is an established starter who can lead them deep into October. What did John Heyman say the Mets are looking for? Top 100 guys, and Verlander wants to go to a team who is committed to winning now. Ding, ding, ding, that is your Baltimore Orioles. They have the prospects to trade for....anyone. But will they overpay? Absolutely not. They weren't going to give up Heston Kjerstad or Coby Mayo for...Aaron Civale. But you know who they would throw one of those guys in a package for? Justin Verlander.
It makes the most sense. The Mets aren't going anywhere this year, Clem can watch re-runs of his dragon shows now (I'm sorry Clem I love you #frankwasright), they need to retool their farm system, and it doesn't help them at all to hold onto Verlander. It's complicated with JV because of his salary and he has an option. But guess which team has a teeny tiny payroll? Baltimore. If they can get the Mets to eat a decent chunk of change like they did with Scherzer, the Orioles have to make this deal. Verlander is making $43 million this year and next, and then has the option the next year, he is 40 as well, so I get the hesitancy. But he is a guy who can get them to the World Series. These are the moves you need to make to get there. Verlander does have the no-trade clause too, but let me ask you this. Why would you not want to play in Baltimore right now? That is a serous question too. He's not a rental, he's not a guy who is just here for 2 months. He'd be here for at least next year as well so you'd think the Mets would want some decent prospects back and the Orioles can do that. But if I'm the Orioles I'm also asking them to pick up a large portion of that deal.
If only there was someone in the Orioles front office who traded for Justin in the past. Wait a minute. That's Mike Elias' music! Elias was in Houston when that move was made in 2017 and that has always been his game plan. Trade prospects for established MLB starters. Not many more starters more established than Verlander. Quietly having a very good year too, 6-5 with a 3.15 ERA and a 1.145 WHIP with 81 Ks in 94.1 innings. Not normal JV stats but would be a great addition to the O's. Immediately jumps to the top of the rotation and becomes the guy. Verlander, Bradish, Kremer, Rodriguez, Gibson with Wells moved to the bullpen. That isn't bad.
Verlander can be a guy who gets them over the hump. He 100% can. Who better for a guy like Grayson Rodriguez to learn from than Verlander? Get him out of Flushing and into Baltimore. It makes the most sense if you ask me. The Orioles have the trade pieces, they absolutely should be talking with the Mets to get this done. Go get him Elias, go do it. Let's make this deep run into October. Now if you'll excuse me I have to practice my cat daddy to impress Kate Upton. Leave his brother at home though, please.