The Detroit Tigers are one win away from their first ALCS appearance since 2013. They could close out the Cleveland Guardians as soon as Thursday.
The future is bright in Detroit, and after a surprise run to the playoffs, they might look to spend some money this winter.
They might need a top-level starter to go next to likely American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. To fill that need, they could potentially reunite with Justin Verlander.
"Here's another three-time Cy Young Award winner and future Hall-of-Famer, only this one is 41 and coming off his worst season as a professional," Zachary D. Rymer wrote in Bleacher Report. "Verlander nonetheless has a chip on his shoulder and is thus and intriguing option on a one-year deal."
Verlander did not have a good season with the Houston Astros and was even left off of their postseason roster this fall. The 41-year-old right-hander was limited to 17 starts and posted a 5.48 ERA.
But his track record precedes him, and he could be an interesting fit in Detroit. He made his Major League debut with the Tigers in 2005 and helped guide them to the World Series in 2006 and 2012.
With the future being as bright as it is in Detroit, having a veteran presence around in a young clubhouse could give the team a serious morale boost in 2025.
The Tigers won 86 games during the regular season and secured the third American League Wild Card spot. Verlander has postseason experience and could be a strong bounce-back candidate for 2025.
We'll see if the Tigers ultimately try to reunite with the veteran right-hander.
More MLB: Guardians vs. Tigers schedule: Complete dates, times, TV channels for 2024 AL Division Series games
