Houston Astros Linked to Former Ace Verlander in Potential Mets Trade

Justin Verlander was a Houston Astro for six seasons. Could he make a return via trade in 2023?

Justin Verlander had some of the best years of his career with the Houston Astros. He won two World Series rings and made an improbable comeback from Tommy John surgery to win the 2022 Cy Young award at 39 years old.

He also won a Cy Young with the Astros in 2019.

So it would make total sense for Verlander to come back to Houston, right?

MLB.com filed a report on Thursday night that indicated that it’s starting to look more likely the New York Mets might try to trade Justin Verlander at the deadline. That report is based on sourcing from two MLB executives.

The Mets signed Verlander, now 40, to an —$86,666,666 million through 2024. The contract even comes with a conditional $35 million in 2025.

But would the Astros entertain the thought of trading prospects to get Verlander back? Per MLB.com:

Another club said to be interested is the Astros, the team with which Verlander pitched from September 2017 through the end of the 2022 season.

Per MLB.com, the Texas Rangers — the Astros’ chief rival to win the AL West in 2023 — would be the front-runner to acquire Verlander, should the Mets go into sell mode.

After missing part of the start of the season with an injury, since June 26 Verlander is 3-1 with a 1.46 ERA in six starts, averaging more than six innings per outing.

The Astros are also rotation-depleted. Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia are out for the season. Jose Urquidy is working his way back on a rehab assignment. Framber Valdez, the staff’s best starter, has stumbled out of the gate after the All-Star break.

If Verlander is the answer, the only question is how much are the Astros willing to pay to get him back?

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