Texas Rangers eyeing Justin Verlander for trade deal

The Texas Rangers have constructed for themselves a startling season, finding themselves in first place in the AL West every single month of the 2023 season so far. At no point have they fallen, despite looking shaky at times. And this has been based largely on their laser-like focus on pitching.

Bruce Bochy took over the helm and made plain that he would spend his energy recruiting pitchers, pitchers, and more pitchers. And to put owner Ray Davis’ money where his mouth is, Bochy immediately signed Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi.

With deGrom out for the season, it is no secret that the Rangers are on the hunt for rotational help and willing to spend big to get it. Prior to Shohei Ohtani’s removal from the trade block, Texas was seen as a serious, if outside, contender for a landing spot for him.

The Ohtani deal scuppered the Rangers in another way, since the Angels picked up Lucas Giolito from the White Sox and Giolito was a more serious target for the Rangers’ attention. Rumor around the league has been rife as to who the Rangers will target next.

Much talk was given over to the possibility that Lance Lynn would head to Arlington, another possibility that was ended with the White Sox shuffling Lynn off to Los Angeles, this time to the Dodgers.

But now it appears that the Rangers are eyeing a possible trade target that is altogether more surprising.

Justin Verlander.

The surprising element is not that the Rangers are willing to spend what it takes to get a pitcher of Verlander’s caliber, but that Verlander is on offer at all. Last season, the Rangers made a push for him and he declined. Since his current contract with the Mets contains a full no-trade clause, it seems like he would simply nix the deal again.

But that was then, this is now.

The Rangers of 2023 are not the Rangers coming off the end of 2022. These Rangers are bona fide World Series contenders, and that could sway Verlander to come back down to the Lone Star state.

He has expressed his desire to remain in New York, largely in deference to his wife Kate Upton who has taken to life in the Big Apple. But the chance at another World Series ring is a powerful elixir.

The Mets are not performing anything like their astronomical payroll, and it is not beyond the realm of possibility that they could look to unload that $43 million that they will have to pay Verlander next season.

The Rangers would happily pay that for the Verlander who won the Cy Young just a year ago, the same Verlander who has been better than ever after Tommy John surgery despite his 40 years.

Reports last month that team mate Max Scherzer could waive his no-trade clause “for the right team” led to rumors that the Rangers might stretch to him. It seems unlikely that they will take both off of the Mets’ hands, but with Verlander now piquing their interest, the next few days could see a revolution in the Texas rotation.