Justin Verlander Rumors: AL West Team Joins Dodgers with Reported Interest in Cy Young Winner

The Dodgers need starting rotation help and have been linked to every available starter. One of their rumored top trade targets was acquired by the Angels this week when Anaheim sent two prospects to the White Sox to get Lucas Giolito.

Now the rumors have shifted to New York following the Mets' signal that they are selling at the deadline.

Justin Verlander is one of the bigger names the Mets may be looking to trade before Tuesday's 3 PM PT deadline. While the Dodgers have been linked, another new team has entered the conversation.

The AL West leading Texas Rangers.

After losing Jason deGrom for the season following Tommy John surgery, the Rangers want starting pitching. Reportedly, both the Rangers and the Dodgers want Justin Verlander, a three-time Cy Young Award winner.

Personally, I wouldn’t want the Dodgers obtaining Verlander who is owed $86.7 million over the next two years if the team exercises its option for the 2025 season. Since Verlander has a no-trade clause, he probably will require his new team to pick up his option.

At 40, Verlander isn’t the same pitcher who won his third American League Cy Young Award with the Houston Astros in 2022, just coming off Tommy John surgery. Spending his entire career in the American League, he is having trouble adjusting to the National League.

This season Verlander has 5 wins and 5 losses with a 3.24 ERA. Earlier this season, he was on the IL with a teres muscle strain. At his advanced age, he is prone to injuries. While he struggled in his first 9 starts, since June 26th, Verlander has 3 wins and 1 loss with 1.46 ERA.

Chris Young, the general manager of the Rangers, figures to be aggressive in seeking starting rotation help. Both Brandon Gomes and Andrew Friedman repeatedly have assured Dodger fans they will go after what the Dodgers need at the trading deadline.