Just like you, Justin Verlander has heard the trade rumors. This isn’t the first time, either. Detroit Tigers General Manager Al Avila personally prepared him to brace for that this offseason, when it became clear the team would entertain discussions about the ace.

And now, with a month to go before the MLB trade deadline, that chatter will intensify.

The 34-year-old pitcher has not given up on the possibility the Tigers could make a run and claw back into the wild card picture, but he’s also well aware that he may be facing one of the biggest decisions of his life in a mere matter of weeks. The recent trade speculation brought that reality to the surface.

“I can’t say it wasn’t expected,” Verlander told The Athletic on Friday. “We’re all aware that if we weren’t at a certain point right now — the team is going to be looking at, probably, to trade some guys, so to see my name out there, I’d say really no reaction. It’s not like the...