Tigers trade Justin Verlander to Astros

The Astros have swung a deal to acquire starter Justin Verlander and cash from the Tigers, according to Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press. Right-hander Franklin Perez, catcher Jake Rogers and outfielder Daz Cameron are headed to Detroit in the deal.

The sides were said to have agreed to a deal that collapsed in the final hour before the midnight waiver trade deadline, though a last-minute intervention appears to have saved the trade. Detroit will pitch in at least $10 million, according to Yahoo!’s Jeff Passan.

Houston has been pursuing Verlander since before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, though the Astros and Tigers were said to be having trouble matching up on the prospects that would head to Detroit in the deal. They obviously bridged that gap throughout talks in August once Verlander cleared revocable trade waivers.

In Verlander, the Astros acquire a Cy Young winner who has pitched to a strong 3.82 ERA and 4.04 FIP in 172 innings for Detroit so far this season. The 34-year-old will immediately slot into a rotation headlined by Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers (if healthy), giving the team a potential three-headed monster for the postseason.

Verlander has spent his entire 13-year career with Detroit, earning six All-Star appearances and earning Cy Young votes in seven seasons. His Tigers’ run ends with a 183-114 record and 3.49 ERA in 380 career starts, easily making him one of the best starters in franchise history.

Detroit acquired Houston’s no. 3, 9 and 11 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline, with Perez being the prize of the group. Perez is currently ranked as the 46th-best prospect in all of baseball and has the potential to be a mid-rotation starter in the majors.