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Houston Astros: Mark DeRosa proposes another deal

By Colin Gay

Jun 27, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) pitches in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 27, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) pitches in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mark DeRosa wants to be the next general manager of the Houston Astros.

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 09: Former Commissioner of NFL Paul Tagliabue, former MLB player Ed Kranepool, Monica Kranepool, former MLB player Mark Derosa and Henry Schacht attend Lead Off For A Cure: Autism Speaks and Major League Baseball join forces at The Metropolitan Museum Of Art on May 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Autism Speaks)
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 09: Former Commissioner of NFL Paul Tagliabue, former MLB player Ed Kranepool, Monica Kranepool, former MLB player Mark Derosa and Henry Schacht attend Lead Off For A Cure: Autism Speaks and Major League Baseball join forces at The Metropolitan Museum Of Art on May 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Autism Speaks) /

On MLB Network yesterday morning, analyst and former major league utility player Mark DeRosa proposed another trade for the Houston Astros. This one was to acquire a former American League MVP. In the hypothetical deal, the Astros would acquire six-time All-Star Justin Verlander, reliable left-handed reliever Justin Wilson, and cash.

The Tigers would get No. 1 prospect Francis Martes, No. 2 prospect Kyle Tucker (who was mistakenly called Preston Tucker by DeRosa), major league fourth outfielder Jake Marisnick (or Marisnik) and right-handed pitcher David Paulino.

Even though this deal would bring the Astros national attention for such a huge trade, Verlander, with all of his accolades with the Detroit Tigers, may not be the best option for long-term. Let’s break this trade down.

The Tigers haul

Obviously, the main draw of this trade would be the Tigers’ ace. In his 13th season in a Tiger uniform, Verlander has been considered as one of the top pitchers in the game. Currently fourth in terms of wins by active starting pitchers with 178, he has a career 3.51 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP.

After having a comeback season in 2016, finishing second in AL Cy Young voting, Verlander has struggled a bit this season. In 16 starts, the 34-year-old has a 4.47 ERA with a 1.45 WHIP. The strikeouts are still a major part of his game, averaging 8.7 per nine innings.

However, control has become much more difficult this season than in years past. He now leads the league with 44 walks in 94.2 innings of work, walking 10.6 percent of all batters faced, the highest of his career.

The real prize possession in this deal may be the left-handed reliever Justin Wilson. In the middle of his second season with the Tigers, Wilson has a 2.76 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP, the best in his six-year career. With only a .170 batting average against, he is striking out a career-high 36.8 percent of batters faced.

Wilson’s high strikeout rate is due to the swing-and-miss he carries in his arsenal. He throws either a four-seam fastball or a cutter 87.8 percent of the time. With the high velocity on his pitches, throwing his four-seam fastball in the high-nineties, opposing batters are only making contact in the strike zone a career-low 78.2 percent of the time.

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