With the Tigers' need for good starting pitching this offseason, attention has already fallen on their former aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. Scherzer will be a free agent—having already received a qualifying offer once in his career—and with another monster season under his belt in 2020, the 37-year-old ace may be able to command as much as $40 million a season on a short two-or three-year deal. From the start, Scherzer was already too pricey for a Tigers’ club in dire need of a high-end shortstop, real help for the rotation, and several other depth pieces.
Justin Verlander was a far more realistic option financially, but also a pretty risky one.