As the Los Angeles Dodgers were looking to bolster their starting rotation at last season’s non-waiver trade deadline, one of the more prominent pitchers they were linked to was Justin Verlander. The Dodgers’ reported interest in the veteran righty dated back months before that.
While speculation ran rampant, the Dodgers meeting the Detroit Tigers’ demands and taking on Verlander’s remaining contract seemed an unlikely scenario. Sure enough, they instead acquired Yu Darvish, while Verlander later cleared revocable trade waivers and was sent to the Houston Astros.
The deal was agreed upon with seconds to spare before the deadline passed, as Verlander grappled with leaving the Tigers organization.