Why Justin Verlander's return is so important to the Astros

RACE TO THE FINISH

Astros Justin Verlander
Verlander was impressive in his return to the rotation. Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images.

If the Astros had managed to win the series over Boston, ESPN Houston's Jeremy Branham was ready to call the division race over.

But now, despite the Mariners getting swept by the Dodgers, the Astros still have some work to do. And having a healthy Verlander down the stretch will definitely help the club as they try to finish off Seattle.

Be sure to watch the video above as ESPN Houston's Jeremy Branham and Joel Blank share their thoughts on JV's return, and much more!

Most Popular

This roster could look very different on Opening Day. Composite Getty Image.

Not long after the Astros pulled the trigger on trading Kyle Tucker, we started seeing reports about the club's interest in trading for Cardinals 3rd baseman Nolan Arenado.

The Athletic's Chandler Rome also reported that Arenado has a no-trade clause, and it's unclear if he would waive it to come to Houston. Earlier last week, a list of teams Arenado would reportedly waive his no-trade clause for circulated on the internet, and Houston was not on it.

The Astros are thought to still be in contention to re-sign Alex Bregman, but a trade for Arenado would kill any hope of a reunion with Breggy.

Also, one of the benefits of trading Tucker was using this as an opportunity to add to a depleted farm system. While Arenado is not expected to bring back a haul of coveted prospects, the Astros would be wise to avoid trading away any young talent for an aging player that's clearly regressing.

As Charlie Pallilo points out in the video below, a deep dive into Arenado's stats shows his numbers are frighteningly close to Jose Abreu's 2023 season. And we all know how that movie ended.

If the 'Stros are going to move on from Tucker and Bregman in the same offseason, it would be nice to give the fan base something exciting to look forward to. Such as signing a switch hitting power hitter like Anthony Santander to play left field.

If Houston goes into the season with an outfield consisting of Mauricio Dubon, Jake Meyers, and Chas McCormick, the infield better produce at a high level or this offense will struggle to score runs once again.

Which brings us to Framber Valdez. As it looks right now, the Astros are trying to reset while also planning to contend in a weak AL West. Would it be more wise to “rip off the band-aid” and deal Framber to speed up the rebuild?

Don't miss the video above as the guys from Stone Cold 'Stros address the latest trade reports, team building, and much more!

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM