Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to an $80 million, five-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday night because the deal had not been announced. The person said the contract could be completed as soon as Thursday.

Verlander won a career-high 19 games with a career-best 3.45 ERA last season. He is 65-43 with a 3.92 ERA in four full seasons with the Tigers.

The sides agreed to bypass salary arbitration. When figures were exchanged last month, Verlander asked for $9.5 million for next season and the team offered $6.9 million.

Verlander ended up securing a more lucrative contract than Felix Hernandez. The Seattle Mariners gave their ace a $78 million, five-year deal. Verlander turns 27 this month and Hernandez, who is 58-41 with a 3.45 ERA, will be 24 in April.

If I was Felix Hernandez right now I would be as pissed as someone who just signed a $78 million contract could possibly be. If Verlander, who has worse numbers in all of the major categories, can get a larger contract despite being more than three years older than somebody fucked up. Sure, it’s hard to complain about $78 million dollars, but if Verlander is getting $80 million than Felix should have gotten at least $90, he is that good.

The real issue here though is that players keep signing long term deals to stay with their current teams, Evan Longoria, Hanley Ramirez, and Josh Johnson for some reason first popped into my mind. While it is ultimately good for baseball that players are signing with the teams that drafted and developed them, it is far more interesting and beneficial for the Red Sox when marquis players hit free agency. Granted, the Red Sox have been operating under the aforementioned theology having signed Jon Lester, Dustin Pedroia, and Kevin Youklis to long term extensions well before free agency was ever an issue. Maybe it is just me, but I love winters with big time free agents and dollars being thrown around left and right. Unfortunately, it seems like those days are behind us as teams become more thrifty with their cash and more invested in their minor leagues. I would much rather spend big bucks to get the players we want and keep our prospects rather then having to trade them away for useful players ie. Victor Martinez and any potential Adrian Gonzalez trade. I’ll just have to continue looking three years down the road to see when the next young stud on a crappy team is going to hit the open market and hope that he too doesn’t sign an extension before he gets there.

- Chris