Another historic milestone: Astros ace Justin Verlander leads the pack

Let's just say JV has deep pockets.Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

News that ace Justin Verlander will begin the season on the injured list shook up Astros fans this week – but not to worry, it’s just a precautionary timeout, he should miss only a couple of starts and be good to go.

Still Verlander’s shoulder issue does point to an Astros question mark – starting pitching - as they embark on yet another postseason run.

Verlander will join perennial injured list resident Lance McCullers Jr. on the sideline, along with Luis Garcia recovering from Tommy John surgery, and possibly J.P. France out of early action. France, who surprised everybody going 11-6 last year, is working through shoulder discomfort and hasn’t appeared in a game so far this spring training. He did throw one inning of a simulated game against live batters but with no fielders behind him this week. So there is progress.

If all healthy, a rotation of Verlander, McCullers Jr., Garcia and France would be one of the strongest in the American League. Ironic, huh?

General manager Dana Brown insists the team is not looking at adding another starting pitcher, so forget the Astros seeking a trade or making a bid for free agents Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery. The Astros early season rotation shapes up as Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Jose Urquidy with Spencer Arrighetti or Brandon Bielak looking to earn a spot.

Verlander beginning the season on the injured list is not a big deal in the baseball’s long run. Nobody need worry about his physical well being or his credit score. He has a structured settlement with the Astros, but he won’t be calling JG Wentworth at 877-CASH-NOW.

Verlander will be paid $43 million in 2024 (tied for the highest-paid player with his fellow injured list frenemy Max Scherzer), and will earn $35 million for 2025 if he throws 140 innings this season. Remember, Verlander started last year on the injured list, didn’t make his first start until May 4, and still managed to throw 162 innings.

While $43 million for this year and $35 million for 2025 sounds like a piggy bank breaker for the Astros, the Mets will be picking up half of Verlander’s pay both years.

If for some reason Verlander doesn’t reach the 140 inning plateau this season, he will become a free agent for 2025. He could command even more than $35 million then. As Woody would say in Toy Story, that’s not flying, that’s falling with style.

So far in his career, Verlander has banked $350 million over his two decades in the big leagues. Add $43 million for 2024 and possibly $35 million for 2025, and Justin Brooks Verlander will leave the game (whenever that is) as the all-time career earnings champion.

We’re talking money already earned, deposited, and accruing interest. We’re not including long-term contracts still in midstream, like Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million deal that will be paying him when he’s old and gray, or Mike Trout’s $426 million agreement that has miles to go before he sleeps (poet Robert Frost).

Currently the highest-paid player in baseball history – actual money earned – is Miguel Cabrera at $400.4 million. Alex Rodriguez is second with $399.2 million. Verlander already is third and the motor is still running.

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Texas hosts Clemson on Dec. 21. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.

No. 4 Texas will be competing for a return trip to Atlanta when it plays at home against No. 13 Clemson in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

The winner of the Clemson-Texas first-round game on Dec. 21 will play No. 10 Arizona State in the Jan. 1 Peach Bowl in Atlanta in the CFP quarterfinals.

For Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, who is from Austin, Texas, the game will be a homecoming.

“We recruited him hard," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Sunday, calling Klubnik “a winner. He will do whatever it takes to put his team in position to be successful.”

Added Sarkisian: “When he made the decision to go to Clemson, honestly I wasn’t surprised. Both his parents went to (Texas) A&M.”

Klubnik applauded the announcement of the game at Texas for Clemson's seventh CFP appearance.

“For him to be going to his first playoff in Austin, Texas, where he grew up, you can’t make that up,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “Pretty cool opportunity for him and his family to go compete against Texas there in Austin.”

Swinney said his only visit to the Texas stadium was to watch Klubnik play in a high school playoff game.

“We’ve never played Texas or played in that stadium,” Swinney said. “... It’s going to be amazing. It’s one of the best venues in college football.”

The Longhorns (11-2) were seeded No. 5 in the CFP following their 22-19 overtime loss to Georgia on Saturday night in the Southeastern Conference championship game in Atlanta.

Sarkisian said his players were “really excited” to see Texas land the No. 5 seed and have the opportunity to play in the Longhorns' first game against Clemson.

Texas safety Andrew Mukuba is a Clemson transfer. Sarkisian said players already were calling the matchup the “Mukuba Bowl.”

Swinney said: “I love Mukuba. I just love his spirit and love his heart. He was a really neat kid.

“I certainly wish he had been able to finish here. He did everything that was asked of him at Clemson. Made a bunch of big plays.”

Clemson (10-3) beat SMU 34-31 in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday night to land an automatic CFP berth. The Tigers are ranked No. 16 in the CFP but were given the 12th and lowest seed. As the fifth-highest ranked league champion, the Tigers do not get a bye and instead must visit Texas.

Arizona State (11-2) earned a bye by rolling over Iowa State 45-19 in the Big 12 championship game Saturday. The Sun Devils were led by running back Cam Skattebo's 170 rushing yards in their impressive win to cap their first season in the Big 12.

Peach Bowl president Gary Stokan noted the Sun Devils were picked to finish last in the Big 12.

“You proved them all wrong,” Stokan told Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham.

Arizona State players celebrated the announcement of their No. 4 seed.

Dillingham said he hopes the conference championship and berth in the CFP helps him recruit and continue to build the program.

“Hopefully this stage will help get our branding out there, and show people that we can be one of the newer brands in college football," Dillingham said. "Every 10-15 years a new brand shows up, and a new brand becomes a national brand.”No. 4 Texas will be competing for a return trip to Atlanta when it plays at home against No. 13 Clemson in the first round of the College Football Playoff.