Ace Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander talked to CNN on a variety of subjects including how he'd feel about having a gay player on the team.
"Given the right situation and a team that has a family atmosphere, absolutely. We have that here. I don't think one of our players would be afraid to come out. What your sexual orientation is, I don't see how that affects our goal as a family."
Asked by reporter Carol Costello whether he'd embrace having a gay player on the team, he said: "Absolutely, I wouldn't mind it."
His comments are contrary to what his new teammate Tori Hunter said a while back. Hunter said it would be difficult and uncomfortable having a gay teammate.
In a rather playful interview, Verlander was asked if he'd like to be the first $200 million pitcher in the majors.
"Yeah absolutely."
He was asked if he thought that was a lot of money to which he said: "Well, the team is bringing in a lot of money, too."
He was asked if he felt he was willing to go whatever team is the highest bidder, he said:
"I don't quite feel that way. However ... you take a lot of things into consideration when you start talking about extensions. Former players worked extremely hard and risked their careers, even, so we could have free agency. I think you do a bit of a disservice to that if you don't honor what they did and use the system to your advantage."
