Here are the massive implications of Justin Verlander returning to Houston Astros
STONE COLD 'STROS
01 August 2023
Well, the deal is official, and Justin Verlander is a Houston Astro once again. What a day for Houston sports fans!
On the day of the trade deadline, GM Dana Brown pulled the trigger, sending prospects Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford to the New York Mets for Justin Verlander.
The Mets are also picking up a significant amount of his salary.
So that's $35 million of the $59M he's owed for '23-24.
Then $17.5M if he vests the 2025 option.
Which would bring the total paid to have Scherzer/Verlander pitch in the AL West to just over $90 million ... PLUS TAX! https://t.co/zjjsJRuLAy
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) August 1, 2023
And with Verlander under contract through 2024, and with a vesting option for 2025, the Astros have him under team control for the next several years. This is huge for the Astros because Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia are not expected to be available at the start of next season.
Here's another perk for the Astros with JV returning. The 'Stros have seen their current rotation wear down over the season, with Cristian Javier, Framber Valdez, and Hunter Brown experiencing some fatigue. Houston could implement a six-man rotation from time to time to keep these guys fresh for the playoff push.
One other thing to consider is what hat JV will wear when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame? With him rejoining the team, will that impact his decision?
Be sure to watch the video above as we discuss all the implications of Verlander returning and what the departures of Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford could mean for Kyle Tucker and Chas McCormick.
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Marcus Semien hit his 250th career home run and Adolis García also went deep to back up a strong start by Nathan Eovaldi and give the Texas Rangers a 5-1, series clinching victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Eovaldi (7-3) limited Houston to five hits and a run with eight strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings for his third straight win.
Houston starter Hunter Brown (9-4) allowed five hits and four runs while striking out eight in five innings as the AL West leaders lost for the fifth time in six games. It was the second straight tough outing for the All-Star, who gave up a season-high six runs in his last start against Cleveland.
Wyatt Langford walked to open the second and the Rangers made it 1-0 when he scored on a triple by Evan Carter. There were two outs in the inning when Carter scored on a ground-rule double by Ezequiel Duran to push the lead to 2-0.García’s third homer in the last four games put Texas ahead 3-0 with two outs in the third inning.
Carter doubled to start the fourth and Kyle Higashioka singled before Carter scored on a sacrifice fly by Alejandro Osuna to make it 4-0.
The Astros cut it to 4-1 on a home run by Zack Short with no outs in the sixth inning.
Semien’s shot with one out in the eighth inning was his second of the series and gave him 250 in his 13-year career.
Key moment
Texas jumping on Brown for two runs in the second inning to take the lead for good.
Key stat
García’s 20 home runs against the Astros since 2021 are the most of any player in that span.
Up next
The Astros open the second half of the season Friday night at Seattle, and the Rangers host Detroit on the same night.
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