Pitcher Justin Verlander has been acquired by his former club, the Houston Astros, from the NY Mets. In return, Houston is sending two minor-league players to New York in the deal – outfielder Drew Gilbert, and outfielder Ryan Clifford. Gilbert is the top-ranked prospect in Houston’s farm system.
The NY Mets have had a disappointing season; the team sits fourth in the division with a 50-55 record and is six games back of a wild-card spot in the National League East. Verlander, who won his third Cy Young award in 2022, signed a two-year, $86.7 million deal with the Mets as a free agent ahead of the 2023 season. The deal also includes a $35 million vesting option for 2025. Verlander told The Athletic’s Will Sammon on July 18 that he remained “committed to trying to win a championship” with the Mets, saying: “Just because we’re not in the position that everyone—including myself—thought we would be in doesn’t mean I still don’t believe… I mean, I came here to win a championship. Look, nobody, including myself, is giving up on this season.”
The 40-year-old Verlander spent five-and-a-half seasons with the Astros from 2017-2022 after being traded from the Detroit Tigers. He won two World Series with the Astros, and won two of his three Cy Young awards in Houston. Verlander is 6-5 this season, with a 3.15 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 81 strikeouts in 94.1 innings across 16 starts.
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