Justin Verlander wants to be the game’s first $200 million pitcher

[Teagz]

Since Felix Hernandez inked his seven-year, $175 million extension with the Mariners earlier this month, there has been a lot of discussion about who will be the game’s first $200 million pitcher. One of the most likely candidates, Justin Verlander, tells Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports that he feels he is deserving of the distinction.​

“I don’t play this game to make the most money. But I do feel like it would be nice to be compensated for what I feel like I’ve been: one of the best, if not the best, the last few years. In my career, I feel like I’ve been one of the top. But the last two years, I’ve kind of separated myself, me and a handful of other guys.
“It’s not a thing where I’m like, ‘Hey, I want to be the highest-paid player,’ where that’s the chief goal. It innately comes with my competitiveness. That’s just me. That’s not why I play the game. I’m good at the game because of that side of me, because I’m competitive at everything I do.”

​

While Verlander said “free agency is really cool,” he also doesn’t think that he has “to be a free agent to get [$200 million].” In other words, if the Tigers come to him with the right offer, he would listen. But he’s also keenly aware that if he continues to pitch the way he has over the past two years, there could be a serious bidding war on the open market.​

Verlander, who turned 30 on Wednesday, is currently eligible to become a free agent following the 2014 season. Dodgers’ left-hander ​

Clayton Kershaw

might be the best candidate of all to top $200 million, as he’s nearly five years younger than Verlander. By the way, he’s also due to become a free agent after 2014.​

 

[cruzg24]

Verlander is great but i also still remember when he was pretty bad years back. I would be very tentative giving him such a big contract because they never work. Zito, Santana, and Brown come to mind among countless others.

 

[snipezo]

He had one bad year

 

[Pugz]

and the team didnt help that year either.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

I can see him making that high of an annual salary, but not making the full 200 because he's already 30. Although that hasn't stopped teams in the past.

 

[cruzg24]

Dont get me wrong Verlander is amazing and he is definitely worthy of a big contract. But 8/25 is just too excessive for me when it puts a player at the end of the contract at the age of 38. The only one i would give that kind of contract to is kershaw because he is significantly younger.

 

[Steez]

like fucking kate upton isn't enough.