Verlander: Future in Detroit is uncertain

Justin Verlander is a rarity in baseball these days — a veteran in his 13th season who has played for only one franchise.

His future in Detroit, once so secure, has become increasingly uncertain.

“Even though I think of this organization as family, you always know that there is that underlying business tone,” Verlander said. “This isn’t just kind of happy go lucky. This is an organization that needs to be run.”

With the Tigers languishing below .500, the next few weeks could be a tumultuous stretch in Detroit. The team was already planning to cut payroll before next season, and if the Tigers don’t show some real signs of contending soon, the pressure will be on general manager Al Avila to trade some of his biggest stars. That could even include Verlander, the 34-year-old former MVP who has helped Detroit win four AL Central titles and two pennants.

“Obviously, where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” Verlander said before Wednesday night’s game against San Francisco. “It’s not completely out of the realm of possibility.”

Verlander won the AL MVP and Cy Young Award in 2011, and he’s surpassed 200 innings nine times in his career. The tireless right-hander has the right to block any trade.

Verlander’s trade value is a complex question. He’s 5-5 with a 4.96 ERA this year, and he’s at an age when a decline like that can be particularly worrisome.

But Verlander experienced a resurgence last season, finishing a close second in the Cy Young vote .

Then there’s his contract, which calls for him to be paid $28 million in both 2018 and 2019, and includes a $22 million vesting option in 2020 that becomes guaranteed if he’s in the top five of the 2019 Cy Young vote.

■ Home Run Derby: Defending champion Giancarlo Stanton will be the top seed in the Home Run Derby on Monday night at his home ballpark in Miami.

Stanton received the No. 1 seed after winning the event during Allstar week last year in San Diego. He will face New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez, the No. 8 seed, in the opening round at Marlins Park.

After Stanton, players were seeded based on their home run totals through Tuesday’s games. In the case of a tie, the higher seed went to the player who reached his current total first.

■ Angels: Los Angeles placed Huston Street on the 10-day disabled list on Wednesday with a strained right groin and are hopeful that star outfielder Mike Trout will return to the team after the All-star break.

Street’s injury comes just four appearances after he made his season debut. He missed the first 11 weeks of the season with shoulder problems.

Trout has been out since May 28 with a torn ligament in his left thumb. He was scheduled to be the DH in a rehab assignment on Wednesday night with Class A Inland Empire.

■ Indians: Cleveland manager Terry Francona missed his second straight game Wednesday in the hospital.

The 58-year-old Francona has been at the Cleveland Clinic since Tuesday. Doctors are running tests to determine what’s been making him feel light-headed. This is Francona’s third hospital stay in the past month.

■ Yankees: New York catcher Gary Sanchez said criticism by Tampa Bay’s Logan Morrison for his Home Run Derby invitation is misplaced.

Morrison was quoted Tuesday by the Tampa Bay Times as saying: “Gary shouldn’t be there. Gary’s a great player, but he shouldn’t be in the Home Run Derby.”

Sanchez is hitting .294 with 13 homers and 40 RBIS in 53 games.

■ Rangers: Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus was placed on MLB’S paternity leave list in anticipation of the birth of his first child.

Andrus is one of five candidates in online voting for the final spot on the AL All-star roster. This is the first time since making his major league debut as a 20-yearold rookie for the Rangers at the start of the 2009 season that Andrus has been off of the team’s active roster.

■ Twins: Minnesota placed left-handed pitcher Hector Santiago on the 10-day DL because of upper back pain.

Santiago, who spent time on the disabled list last month with a left shoulder strain, is 4-8 with a 5.63 ERA in 70 1/3 innings, with 31 walks and 51 strikeouts.

The Associated Press