MLB Hot Stove: Houston Astros re-sign Justin Verlander
Verlander returning to the Astros ends speculation the veteran right-hander landing with the Yankees or Red Sox
The Houston Astros and Justin Verlander have agreed to a one-year, $25 million contract with a player option for a second season. The deal was first reported by Verlander’s brother Ben Verlander on his personal Twitter account.
The 38-year-old right-hander is coming off Tommy John surgery which has sidelined the veteran since 2019. Verlander has only made one appearance in the last two years. When the baseball world last saw Verlander, he won the 2019 Cy Young Award. He pitched to a 2.58 ERA over 223 innings while posting a 21-6 record.
Justin Verlander is back in Houston
Verlander decided he would decline the $18.4 million qualifying offer from the Astros. Rumors began to swirl around the Hot Stove that Verlander was looking for a two-year deal and he preferred to pitch on the East Coast. Once the East Coast rumors began, fans and media began to speculate that Verlander could land with the Yankees, Blue Jays or the Red Sox.
The future Hall of Famer will turn 39 in February and will look to anchor down the Astros young rotation. He will join the likes of Lance McCullers Jr., Framber Valdez, Luis Garcia and Jose Urquidy in their rotation. If Verlander is healthy, he provides massive upside for the Astros despite his age.
Houston will now turn their attention in retaining shortstop Carlos Correa. Like Verlander, he also rejected the qualifying offer and is a free agent. Correa has been tied to numerous teams, however it remains to be seen whether Astros owner Jim Crane will open the wallet for his franchise shortstop.
– Chris Henrique (@ChrisHenrique on Twitter)
- Beyond the Monster (@BeyondtheMnstr on Twitter)