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MLB

Justin Verlander in homecoming move back to Houston

In a surprise move, the New York Mets have reportedly concluded a trade that sends ace Justin Verlander back where they got him from, returning to Houston.

Jeffrey May
Jeffrey MayJeff_DiarioAS
In a surprise move, the New York Mets have concluded a trade that sends ace Justin Verlander back where they got him from, returning to Houston.
RICH SCHULTZAFP

The Mets as sellers came as a shock to many, when just six months ago, they seemed so willing to pay so much to win big. The wins never came and the big purchases started to get peeled off, starting with Max Scherzer being dealt to Texas.

Now his stable mate, two-time Cy Young winner and last year’s World Series champion ace Justin Verlander looks to have been traded as well. Even more unusual in this tale is the fact that he is being sent back to where the Mets acquired him from. Justin Verlander is going back to Houston.

Trades in baseball are a strange thing, and often the ownership or fan base or both will sour on the player long before the door closes. In the case of the 40-year-old Verlander, however, he seems to be returning to Houston in triumph.

The fans adore him, in the off season imploring Astros owner Jim Crane to find the money from anywhere to keep him on staff. Crane was unable to do that and in fact wished Verlander well in his move to New York.

Now it seems, the Astros were able to find that extra cash after all. The Mets signed him to a two-year $86.7 million deal that still has $43.3 million to run, plus a $35 million option for 2025.

Neither club has confirmed the deal, which will send outfielders Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford, Houston’s number one and four prospects, to the Mets.

Verlander is having a solid year, and in many ways is a superior purchase to Scherzer. With a 3.15 ERA and 1.15 WHIP, Verlander has struck out 81 batters in 94.1 innings pitched, and there are signs that he is improving since the All-Star break.

Verlander will join Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, José Urquidy, Hunter Brown, and J.P. France in what is surely one of the hottest rotations in baseball.

This move comes as a jolt of electricity to a resurgent Astros team who have spent nearly the entire season chasing the Texas Rangers in the AL West. At only half a game back from first, they are rising just as their Texas rivals seem to be faltering somewhat, and with Verlander back in the fold, the post season could see Houston as the team to beat.