What It Means:

Verlander owns a 4.73 ERA in 18 starts this season and his contract pays him over $28 million per year through 2019, so the 34-year-old right-hander doesn't make for the most attractive trade target, especially when the Tigers have no intention of selling their longtime ace at a discount. According to Heyman, J.D. Martinez, Justin Wilson, and Alex Avila are all much more likely to be dealt by Detroit at the deadline.

It's been a bit of a down year for Verlander, as his 5.03 xFIP and 10.9 walk percentage (BB%) are both career-highs. numberFire's models project him to go 5-5 over the rest of the season while twirling a 4.31 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 20.6 strikeout percentage and 8.8 BB% across 83 2/3 innings.