CLEVELAND, OH – JULY 26: Starting pitcher Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers leaves the game after the seventh inning when he gave up four runs to the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on July 26, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
DETROIT (CBS Detroit) A jocular and seemingly relaxed Justin Verlander sat down with CNN for a wide-ranging interview where he took on everything from his golf game to gay players in the locker room.
And then there was the $200 million question.
Would he leave Detroit for an even bigger paycheck?
“No,” Verlander said. “You take a lot of things into consideration when you start talking about an extension and that type of thing. We’re at this place as baseball players where we’re very fortunate to be in this place for a reason.”
On his paycheck, he said: ”The team’s bringing in a lot of money, too.”
And on the gay player front, Verlander said he’s sure there are already gay players in baseball. “I think as with any sport, a gay player would probably be hesitant to come out, but sheer numbers say there absolutely is,” he said.
Verlander added he didn’t see why a player would feel like he could come out “given the right situation.” “A team is a family situation,” he added. “I don’t think one of our players would be scared to come out.”
The ultimate goal of his “family,” Verlander said, is to win a World Series.
But something he’s not likely to win? The National Pro Am tour.
“I used to think I was pretty good,” Verlander said about his golf game, adding, “I wouldn’t say I was humbled, I got new respect.”
