MLB World Reacts to Blockbuster Trade That Sends Justin Verlander Back to Astros

The ace is headed back to Houston, where he just won the World Series title and Cy Young Award last year.

Pitcher Justin Verlander made huge MLB news on Tuesday when it was announced the Mets ace would be traded back to the Astros after only half a season in New York, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

While the news of Verlander being traded didn’t come as a huge shock to MLB fans since the pitcher said he was thinking about his future with the team after the Mets traded away Max Scherzer on Saturday, fans didn’t necessarily expect Verlander to head back to Houston that quickly.

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Verlander spent four and a half seasons with the Astros, through 2022. During that time, he earned two of his three Cy Young Awards, helped the team win two World Series titles and earned three All-Star bids.

The MLB world couldn’t help but react to the blockbuster trade for various reasons. For one, fans see this as another major moment of the Mets’ downfall this season. Another is that the Astros now seem like the team to beat again in the postseason.

Here are some of the best social media reactions on Tuesday, including from Verlander’s brother Ben.

H-TOWNNNNNN!!!!!! 🤘

— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) August 1, 2023

The Astros heard all of you questioning whether or not they’d make it to the ALCS for the 19th consecutive season. https://t.co/HOkyzywZng

— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) August 1, 2023

did a quick photoshop https://t.co/0K53kXCYDG pic.twitter.com/Srj7e9tDZS

— Steve Benko (@SteveBenko) August 1, 2023

funniest possible outcome for both teams:

-complete and utter waste of everyone’s time on the Mets’ front
-having to trade for a guy you were too cheap to pay to keep in free agency because your owner was directly handling negotiations for the Astros https://t.co/44wLfa4sOh

— Bobby Wagner (@bwags) August 1, 2023

The Astros are 1-0 in the World Series when making a mid-season trade for Justin Verlander https://t.co/ludURiT5Yj

— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) August 1, 2023

OMG THE METS TRADED VERLANDER https://t.co/DwdbSZFpBu

— Marc Luino (@GiraffeNeckMarc) August 1, 2023

OMG OMG OMG OMG

HAPPY TUESDAY, Y'ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!! https://t.co/vQehxLsDrZ

— Jennifer Piacenti (@jenpiacenti) August 1, 2023

Verlander convinced the Mets to give him $86.67M only to be traded back to the Astros. Couldn't have worked out better for him https://t.co/7eTB0SBP4H

— Brandon Wile (@Brandon_N_Wile) August 1, 2023

They’re gonna be the team to beat in the AL again. https://t.co/WTCp5up5YX

— Randy Wilkins (@pamsson) August 1, 2023

Mets selling like folks on the streets of NYC

— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) August 1, 2023