MLB reporter Jon Heyman highlights teams currently fighting over Verlander's services

Justin Verlander is the top free agent pitcher available right now. He was arguably always the top pitcher on the market, but that is especially true now that Jacob deGrom has signed in Texas. He has no shortage of suitors, but two teams seem to be separating themselves from the pack.

According to Jon Heyman, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets seem to be fighting over the former Houston Astros ace's services.

Jon Heyman

@JonHeyman

Multiple teams — including Dodgers snd Mets — believed to be offering Verlander a big two-year deal but he may try to wait for a 3rd year
nypost.com/2022/12/05/met…

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Multiple teams — including Dodgers snd Mets — believed to be offering Verlander a big two-year deal but he may try to wait for a 3rd year
nypost.com/2022/12/05/met…

Heyman told the New York Post:

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"Hall of Fame-bound Justin Verlander has two-year offers from multiple big-market clubs — presumably including the Dodgers and Mets, who seem to be the co-favorites — but there are indications that a deal could be struck if any of these teams adds the third year."

Other reports suggest that the newly crowned Cy Young winner wants a deal reminiscent of Max Scherzer's three-year, $130 million contract. So far, teams have been hesitant to offer three years to a 39-year old who recently had Tommy John surgery.

Heyman believes that a third year could be the difference maker. If either the Dodgers or Mets add a third year, that might be enough to win the sweepstakes.

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What would Dodgers, Mets' rotations look like with Verlander?

Verlander would be one of the top two starting pitchers on any MLB team. He'd be the ace of the vast majority of them, too.

In Los Angeles, he would probably be the ace. They have a deep pitching staff, but their rotation doesn't feature anyone quite as good as the AL Cy Young winner. With him, it could look like this:

• Verlander
• Walker Buehler
• Julio Urias
• Clayton Kershaw
• Tony Gonsolin/Dustin May

In New York, they suddenly have a vacancy at the top of their rotation. As deGrom has bolted for a massive deal with the Texas Rangers, this leaves a hole in the rotation.

Here's what a hypothetical rotation looks like:

• Max Scherzer
• Verlander
• Tyler Megill
• Carlos Carrasco
• David Peterson

Chris Bassitt and Taijuana Walker were in New York but are now free agents and would bolster the rotation upon their potential return, too. Either way, it's hard to pass up a top two like the Mets could have here.

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