Verlander back to Houston as Mets trade ace (source)
In a blockbuster deal, Justin Verlander is heading again to the Astros. The Mets have agreed to commerce the three-time Cy Young winner to the Astros, a supply informed MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. New York will obtain outfielders Drew Gilbert (Houston’s No. 1 prospect; No. 68 in baseball) and Ryan Clifford (Houston’s No. 4 prospect), in keeping with Feinsand. The groups haven’t confirmed the deal.
Verlander has a full no-trade clause, which MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported the right-hander has waived.
Verlander, 40, got here to the Mets in December on a two-year, $86.6 million deal that matched Max Scherzer’s contract for the very best common annual worth in Major League historical past. The settlement features a $35 million vesting choice that turns into a participant choice if Verlander pitches a minimum of 140 innings subsequent 12 months.
After lacking the primary 5 weeks of this season as a consequence of a teres main pressure close to his proper lat, Verlander scuffled in May and elements of June earlier than righting himself in current weeks. Over his final seven begins, Verlander has produced a 1.49 ERA.
As a three-time Cy Young Award winner, nine-time All-Star, former Rookie of the Year and the 2011 American League MVP, Verlander is a surefire Hall of Famer who ranks among the many most battled-tested playoff pitchers of his era. He is 16-11 with a 3.64 ERA all-time in postseason play, together with his first profession World Series win final October. Verlander gained titles with the Astros in 2017 and ’22.
