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As veteran right-hander Justin Verlander gears up for another round of free agency, there should be plenty of teams looking to land his services. Even at his advanced age, Verlander remains a highly effective pitcher, and he proved it last season with the San Francisco Giants
With San Francisco, Verlander threw 152 innings of work, posting an ERA of 3.85, while striking out 137 batters. Verlander has expressed a desire to keep going in the big leagues, and many teams could use his services
The right-hander showed that he could still be an above-average starter in the major leagues, and every team needs this for a rotation. Verlander could slot in as a backend starter for any team, and he could provide a reliable arm that can also be a leader in the clubhouse.
Even if he isn’t the same ace-level starter that he was a few years ago, Verlander offers a role of someone who can eat innings during the regular season. The veteran can also be a marketing tool for some teams, as fans will want to keep up with what he is doing since he was a star in the big leagues for so long.
Verlander may prefer to latch on with a contending team this winter, but that hasn’t stopped him in the past. Joining the Giants last year was more for the fit, rather than him seeing San Francisco as a team that could win the World Series.
All in all, Verlander could be a real steal for a club this season, but it remains to be seen where he will land. However, the veteran proved himself a year ago, and it should earn him another one or two-year contract going forward.
This is just a prediction, NOT a report!
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Justin Verlander Signs With Cleveland Guardians
One team that could look to get involved in the sweepstakes for Verlander is the Cleveland Guardians. Some around baseball have speculated that Verlander could return to the Houston Astros this winter, but this remains to be seen.
Houston has had multiple chances to bring the former ace back to town, and they have declined each time. This would open the door for a team like the Guardians to land the former All-Star.
Cleveland reached the playoffs this past season after an incredible run to end the year. The Guardians are seen as a playoff contender in the American League, so they would give Verlander a chance to go after another World Series this year.
The Guardians have always had strong pitching on the roster, and Verlander could come in to be a depth piece for the rotation. Since he wouldn’t be needed to be a front-line starter, this could be the perfect role for the veteran.
Verlander could help some of the younger pitchers on the Guardians grow, making this even more of a strong move for Cleveland. Overall, the Guardians make a lot of sense to add someone like the veteran to the rotation this winter.