One fact you don't acknowledge is that Verlander had full no-trade protection, meaning he would have had to agree to go to the Rockies, something few (if any) Hall of Fame level pitchers are going to do, especially if a team with better playoff chances (like Houston) is also interested. And the report I read indicated the Tigers are covering $8m of his salary the next two years, so nowhere near half.

Verlander to the Rockies is a fan's pipe dream, it was never going to happen in real life.