MLB
Justin Verlander’s contract details: Salary with the Astros and years remaining
The Astros have a future Hall of Famer in Justin Verlander, but age and injury might be catching up to him. How much more they can squeeze out of him?
Justin Verlander is a key part of the Astros rotation. The three-time Cy Young winner and two-time World Series champion is in the final year of his two-year deal that was inherited by the Astros when they traded with the Mets for him last season. It washed out at $43.3 million per year, half of which was paid by the Mets and included an option for a third year. That option could have been worth an additional $35 million for JV, but will not be in play following his injury at mid season which kept him below the 140 innings threshold that he needed to pitch in order to trigger that clause.
Now, in the playoffs, Verlander is looking at free agency. He’s still a dominant force on the mound when healthy and a shoo-in Hall of Famer, but at 41, questions about how much he has left linger. Even with the injury, he’s posted a respectable 3.95 ERA this year, striking out 51 batters in 57 innings. But that number of innings is exactly where the concern lies. He just hasn’t been able to stay on the field as consistently as he or the Astros would like.
Since June 9, Verlander hasn’t thrown a pitch for Houston, which is worrisome as the team eyes October and a playoff run. With so much uncertainty, it’s unclear what kind of contract Verlander could fetch in the offseason. The general feeling around the league, though, is that he will return to Houston, likely for less money than his current deal. As Michael Brakebill from FanSided puts it, the Astros’ farm system is thin, and they’ll need to spend in free agency to stay competitive. He believes Verlander will sign a final contract to finish out his career in Houston.
Whether Verlander takes a “hometown discount” to stay with a club where he’s found so much success is another question. He’s nearing the end of a Hall of Fame career, and while injuries have taken a toll, there’s no doubting his desire to finish strong.
The Astros have left Verlander off the Wild Card roster and it is to be determined if he will be back with the team if they advance in the playoffs.