Tigers Lock Up Verlander Until 2015

The AP is reporting that the Justin Verlander has agreed to a five-year, $80 million dealwith the Tigers that will lock up the ace until 2015.

This signing continues a trend we've seen this offseason where teams are starting to lock up their young aces long-term. First it was Josh Johnson with the Marlins, then King Felix with the Mariners, and now Verlander. Like the Johnson and Hernandez signings, this is a move the Tigers had to make. Having that top of the rotation guy is extremely important to any team that wants to win. We all saw what having that kind of ace did for the Yankees in 2009 with CC.

At one time or another I looked at all three of these aces as guys the Yankees could potentially sign in the future, and while I'm a little upset they're all now signed to long-term deals, I'm happy to see other teams making the investments they have to make to contend. It's good for baseball.