Houston Astros strengthen their rotation and trade for Justin Verlander
TRADE DEADLINE
01 August 2023
TRADE DEADLINE
According to multiple sources, the Houston Astros have a deal in place to trade for Justin Verlander.
Justin Verlander and the #Astros won two World Series titles together, now they're back together vying for a 3rd title.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 1, 2023
Bob Nightengale is reporting that two minor league players will be heading to New York in the deal. Astros top prospect Drew Gilbert and OF Ryan Clifford.
Wow, Astros pay a massive price. Gilbert, a first-round pick last year, is their top prospect. Clifford is No. 4, according to MLB Pipeline https://t.co/AgIV87JvuM
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 1, 2023
Verlander is 6-5 this season with a 3.15 ERA. It will be interesting to see if the Mets send cash to Houston as well. We'll continue to update the details of the contract as more information becomes available.
Justin Verlander in July:
2nd in NL in OPS allowed (.477)
3rd in NL in opp. AVG (.167)
Astros rotation this year:
13th in AL in OPS allowed (.727)
10th in AL in opp. AVG (.247)
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) August 1, 2023
Nightengale is reporting that the Mets are sending the Astros $54 million. I believe Bob meant $39 million over 2 1/3 years.
The New York #Mets are sending the #Astros about $54 million in the Justin Verlander trade, one executive said, if Verlander's $35 million option in 2025 becomes vested.
Verlander is owed about $93 million, meaning the #Astros would pay Verlander about $29 million for 2 1/3 years
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 1, 2023
Here are more details on the cash the Mets are sending.
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
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.