Astros Acquire Justin Verlander in Blockbuster Trade With Mets, per Report

The 2022 Cy Young winner is headed back to Houston in a blockbuster trade

After some lengthy negotiations, the Mets and Astros were reportedly able to come to terms on an agreement for Justin Verlander, according to multiple reports. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale was the first to report the news.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Tuesday, just a few hours before MLB’s trade deadline officially passed, that the two sides “have a deal in place,” which will see the 40-year-old return to Houston.

Per Passan, the Mets will receive outfield prospects Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford in the deal. Gilbert, 22, is ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Astros’ farm system, currently playing at the Double-A level. Clifford, 20, is Houston’s No. 4 prospect.

Verlander signed for New York on a two-year, $86.66 million deal, which includes a vested option for $35 million in 2025 if he pitches at least 140 innings during the 2024 season. Joel Sherman of the NY Post indicates the Mets will pay $35 million of Verlander’s remaining salary over the next two seasons, as well as half of the amount of the option in 2025, if it’s triggered.

Verlander, who won the American League Cy Young award in 2022 with Houston, has registered a 3.15 ERA across 16 starts in a Mets uniform, striking out 81 batters across 94.1 innings pitched.

He spent five seasons with the Astros from 2017 to ’22 and now returns to help the team defend the World Series title they claimed last year. 

Verlander is the second star pitcher to be offloaded by New York during this current trade cycle. The Mets traded Max Scherzer to the Rangers in exchange for Luisangel Acuña, the younger brother of Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr., earlier this week.