Detroit Tigers trade Justin Verlander to Houston

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers have traded star pitcher Justin Verlander.

Verlander has been traded to the Houston Astros for prospects. It was originally reported that Verlander may have vetoed the trade, but it was completed at the last minute. 

The Tigers acquired pitcher Franklin Perez, center fielder Daz Cameron and catcher Jake Rogers from the Astros in exchange for Verlander and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

“We’re thrilled to get three great prospects from one of the highest ranked farm systems in baseball,” said Al Avila, Tigers executive vice president and general manager. “All three players are outstanding athletes, and they greatly bolster our minor league system. Perez was the headliner for us, cementing himself as a dominant force in each of his three years in professional baseball. Daz Cameron is someone that we view as one of the highest-ceiling players in the minors. Cameron is a guy that slipped in the draft because of signability concerns, but has always shown flashes of his dad’s play. Rogers plays beyond his years, demonstrating solid pop in his bat while having above average plate discipline, and our scouts have him rated as a reliable receiver behind the plate with an above average arm."

Verlander, 34, has spent his entire career with the Tigers, after being drafted in 2004.

Verlander won Rookie of the Year in 2006, the AL Cy Young award in 2011 and AL MVP award in 2011.

Verlander, serving as the team's ace pitcher for most of his career, accumulated 183 wins, 2,373 strikeouts with a career 3.49 earned run average in 380 games started with the Tigers.

Since the trade deadline passed, Verlander has done his best work of the season. He's 3-1 in August with 41 strikeouts in 36 innings. He's allowed just 23 hits, six walks and 10 runs over that span.

"On behalf of the Detroit Tigers, we sincerely thank Justin Verlander for his remarkable 13 seasons of dedication to the organization,” Avila said. “Justin has been the face of consistency over the course of his career, and a pillar for baseball in the City of Detroit. He is someone who I believe to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.  We wish Justin all the best as he starts a new chapter in his illustrious career."

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How much is Justin Verlander really worth?

Coming off his best season since 2012, Verlander entered 2017 as one of the top starting pitchers in all of baseball. He piled up 254 strikeouts in 227.2 innings last year, allowing just 171 hits and 57 walks. He finished with a 3.04 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 16-9 record, for those of you who are into standard statistics.

More on this here from ClickOnDetroit's Derick Hutchinson.