Inside the Astros

Report: Justin Verlander Spoke With Mets Last Week

Justin Verlander has reportedly met with the New York Mets over Zoom last week as the 2022 Cy Young award winner looks for a new home in free agency.

Kade Kistner

Report: Justin Verlander Spoke With Mets Last Week
Report: Justin Verlander Spoke With Mets Last Week /
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Former Houston Astros starter and 2022 Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander is looking for a new home in MLB free agency. Nearly every team is looking for pitching help, but not many can afford what Verlander will command.

One of the teams that can, the New York Mets, met with Verlander over Zoom last week according to a report from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. 

The Mets are due to lose ace Jacob deGrom if they cannot offer a deal that has enough years or a high enough AAV to appeal to the oft-injured pitcher. In the case they can't, they very well may pivot to Verlander as the answer.

Of course, the issue remains that they already have an aging and high-dollar starter on the roster in Max Scherzer. Adding Verlander might be a short-term solution, but many fans will be wary of a 2023 performance from Verlander that could induce questions about a decline, much like Scherzer's in 2022. Scherzer pitched just 145.1 innings last season after dealing with multiple injuries. 

That being said, nothing is even close to being a done deal and the Astros would very much like him back. Owner Jim Crane has a candid relationship with Verlander and knows what it will take to retain him. Whether he meets that asking price remains to be seen, but one can bet that he will at least try.

The market for Verlander is heating up, all that remains to be seen is who will meet his asking price. 

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  3. Report: Former Astros Pitcher Fiers' Contract Terminated By CPBL Club
  4. Six Houston Astros Declared Free Agents
  5. Watch: Yordan Álvarez's Home Run Wins Astros World Series
  6. Lucas Giolito Claims All Teams Were Cheating in 2017
  7. Dusty Baker Makes His Thoughts Known on Bonds and Judge Records
  8. Is it Time to Move on From the Houston Astros Cheating Scandal?
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Make sure to follow Inside the Astros on Twitter @InsideAstrosSI!

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Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

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