"Same contract as Alex Cobb surprised some folks" - MLB insider shares thoughts on Justin Verlander's $15,000,000 Giants move

Justin Verlander's one-year, $15 million signing with the San Francisco Giants has surprised many. While Verlander is a certain Hall of Famer, given he's almost 42, this splash is a little surprising, especially considering it's the same number Alex Cobb and the Detroit Tigers had agreed in December.

MLB analyst Adam Weinrib, on his Wednesday's podcast "Baseball Insiders," feels that it's too much money for the veteran arm. While MLB insider Robert Murray agreed to Weinrib's thoughts, he said that it's smart for the Giants to get him.

"For me, I think it was a smart move," Murray said (15:30 onwards). "It gives them the same contract as Alex Cobb, which I know surprised some folks. For me, it makes me wonder what exactly a guy like Max Scherzer is going to get in free agency. We’ll see there.

"I didn’t have any issues with it whatsoever. I knew the Giants were poking around in the starting pitching market. I mentioned on a previous show that they were in on Shane Bieber. Similar terms here—this move gets them a veteran right-handed arm for one year. To me, there’s no such thing as a bad one-year deal.”

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Robert Murray emphasizes on benefits getting Justin Verlander to Giants

Robert Murray also shared that the Giants would receive a Hall of Fame in Justin Verlander in their clubhouse who could serve as a mentor to youngsters like Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison and Hayden Birdsong.

"I think Verlander going to the Giants is a good move for them," Murray added. "If you look at this, you can view it in a number of different ways. You get a future Hall of Fame pitcher for $15 million, put him in a rotation with a bunch of young guys.

"You have Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, Birdsong, and several others, and Verlander can be a veteran mentor for these guys—someone they can pick the brain of. I think it’s a really smart move for the Giants. It gives them another arm in a rotation that needed reinforcements, especially with their current situation."

The Giants have grappled with depth issues in their rotation, particularly with questions surrounding Jordan Hicks’ ability to start throughout the season. Justin Verlander’s addition not only offers flexibility but also serves as an insurance against injuries.