Why Verlander gets more
There’s been a lot of talk about whether Justin Verlander should get a bigger contract then Felix Hernandez. As you probably have heard, Verlander (apparently) has signed a 5 year, $80million deal with detroit, topping Hernandez’s 5 year, $78 million deal.
The arguments are around who is the better pitcher, and mainly the fact that Felix H is three years younger then Justin V. On paper, yes, Hernandez deserves a better contract. But in reality, there was no way he was going to get it.
Why? Hernandez signed his deal, which bought out his arbitration years, and places him on the free agent market when he’s 28. Verlander, on the other hand, will be 31… which is not the optimal age for another long term contract. After the completion of his new contract, Felix might get another 4 or 5 year deal for a massive amount of cash. In fact, Hernandez could get hurt next year, tear both his shoulder AND his knee, and he has enough time to rehab an establish himself as a 28 year old worth a long term contract. Verlander, on the other hand, will get his payout from Detroit and hope to get a few more two or three year contracts before he retires. If he has an injury issue, he’s an ‘older’ player with an injured past. Thats a huge difference.
So that’s why Justin Verlander was going to get more… because he wasn’t going to sign for less. Knowing what Boston or New York might pay on the open market, Verlander had the power to hold out until the 2012 off-season and sign a MONSTER deal. Yet there was still risk in that move, which is why he probably chose to sign a very nice deal with Detroit. But there was no way he was going to take less then Hernandez. Hernandez is in elite company… there will be few pitchers in the history of baseball who will out-earn him. His age and major league service time puts him in a class by himself, and best of luck to him. But this wasn’t about who is better — it was about age and leverage. Hernandez got what he deserved, and so did Verlander. In fact, I’m surprised that Verlander didn’t hold out for more.
As a fan who is still upset that Jack Morris didn’t retire a Tiger, I’m very happy that Verlander is staying a Detroit Tiger for at least five more years.