FanPost

Is Verlander an even better fit for the Yankees now?

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Unfortunately, it was revealed today that Yankees starter Michael Pineda has torn ligaments in his right elbow, and Tommy John Surgery has been recommended. Pineda will miss the rest of this season, and potentially all of the 2018 season as well. First off, let me say it's terrible news for the 28-year-old Pineda. I personally have always seen Pineda as having the potential to be a top-of-the-rotation arm, and this is another setback in him reaching that potential. I think we all hope Pineda makes a speedy recovery from the surgery, and we see him back on the mound pitching again as soon as possible.

That brings me to my main point: Could Justin Verlander be back on the market, and would the Yankees be interested? After recent reports suggested that most teams thought of Verlander as a "diminishing asset", the Verlander sweepstakes seemed to be done. In fact, recent reports also suggested that the Tigers weren't even actively shopping Verlander at this point. Still, the Yankees always seemed to be a good fit for Verlander, as they were looking for starting pitching at the trade deadline even before the Pineda injury. The Yankees are also one of the few teams that could afford a bulk of the Verlander contract.

It seems that the Tigers could now keep their asking price high if the Yankees came calling. The Pineda injury makes the Yankees need for starting pitching even more apparent, as I said above, they were looking for starting pitching on the trade market even before the Pineda injury. The Tigers can now ask for a bigger trade package in return, and/or ask the Yankees to take on a large majority of the Verlander contract. In the end, I'm sure Verlander would also love to play for the Yankees, who are a big-market team that will have a better chance of getting Verlander a ring in the next few years than he would have if he stayed in Detroit. Overall, the Yankees need for starting pitching just got bigger, and that may be a big benefit to the Tigers in the long-run.

Any thoughts, Tigers fans? Is it more likely Verlander gets traded now? Or do you see him staying in a Tigers uniform when the trade deadline passes? Comment below!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the <em>Bless You Boys</em> writing staff.