EVERY-THING SPORTS
3 pressing Houston Astros questions with Justin Verlander back in the fold
Aug 2, 2023, 6:47 pm
EVERY-THING SPORTS
He's baaaaack! For the second time in six years, the Astros made a last minute trade deadline deal for Justin Verlander. Fans can relax a bit now. The team has made moves for another reliever in Kendall Graveman, and now a frontline starter in Verlander. While there was no trade to add another bat to an inconsistent lineup, this move signals a few things. Here's a look at how they convinced him to come back:
Verlander is back at a time in which this team needs him desperately. Their main competition in the division, the Rangers, just made a deal for Verlander's former teammate Max Scherzer. They are currently tied with the Astros in the AL West and have a potent offense. Now they got an ace to add to their staff. I have thoughts…
Should Verlander have left in the first place?: My initial thought was glad he's back. My next thought was why'd he leave. Jim Crane was determined not to pay him more than what he felt he should. When that number got to be too much, he bowed out and wished JV well in New York. Two years for $86.7 million and a third year at $35 million that vests if Verlander can basically stay upright in the second year was a no-brainer for him. Add that to the fact that they thought the staff would be just fine with all they had, and there's a recipe for a breakup.
Was it a steep price?: Giving up arguably your two best prospects is a steep price. Add to it, they're both outfielders that can really play, and your minor league system has been drained a bit. That makes it that much steeper. Let's add in the fact that Kyle Tucker's price keeps going up by his play, and now by this deal. To take some of the sting out, the Mets are paying a significant portion of Verlander's salary for the balance of the contract. The Astros are only on the hook for about $39 million of Verlander's remaining deal, including the vesting year (Bob is off by 10 million in the tweet below). However, this price is viewed as less steep if a couple of things happen – they need another World Series ring, and/or sign Tucker to a long-term deal. Both would be ideal, especially given that two of Tucker's replacements now wear different colors, but I'll take another ring if I had to pick between the two.
Are they in go for it mode?: After Crane parted ways with former GM James Click, I thought he'd bring in a guy that would share his go hard or go home attitude. Dana Brown doesn't necessarily embody that exact same attitude, but he's got some of it in him. This is the man credited with helping turn the Braves into the contender they are now. He would re-sign their best young players to long-term deals before their price tags got crazy. Crane has never been the one to shy away from making a splash. Click was more about the slow build approach. Now that Crane has a guy in place that doesn't mind swinging for the fences, we see how that goes. To have an owner and GM combo that both want to win big and will do what's necessary to do so, it makes the fan base appreciative of their efforts.
Striking while the iron is still hot is smart. Their window for winning is still open. Giving up two minor leaguers, no matter how much potential they've shown, was the right move. I know we may have a bare cupboard later on, but I'll find solace in those 2017 and 2022 rings. If this falls apart terribly, it'll hurt for sure. I'll wrap myself in my title tee shirts and be okay. So many times we look at the worst case scenario when it comes to trades like this. We pick them apart and find every possible way to criticize them. That, or we get way too excited about outcomes that aren't very likely. I think this one falls somewhere in the middle, but closer to the euphoric feeling. Why? Because this team has done this before and are poised to do it again. They added what they needed. Now we wait…
The Houston Texans are entering the 2025 NFL Draft with a roster on the rise and a franchise quarterback in C.J. Stroud—but what happens next is anything but certain.
Draft experts are calling this year’s class one of the most difficult to project, especially in the back half of the first round, where opinions on prospects vary widely. For the Texans, who hold the No. 25 overall pick, this presents both opportunity and risk. With no glaring positional holes but several areas in need of long-term upgrades, Houston’s approach will provide insight into how the front office views its roster—and, more specifically, how it plans to protect its most valuable asset: Stroud.
Stroud was sacked 52 times last season, second only to Chicago's Caleb Williams. That reality underscores the Texans’ top priority heading into the draft: fortifying the offensive line. How they do that could reveal what they truly think of tackle Blake Fisher and whether Tytus Howard’s future lies at guard or tackle.
A number of linemen are on the Texans’ radar for their first-round pick, including Alabama interior mauler Tyler Booker, versatile North Dakota State tackle Gray Zabel, and Oregon’s athletic pass protector Josh Conerly. Texas standout Kelvin Banks and Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson also bring physicality and pedigree, while Josh Simmons of Ohio State is a long-term project coming off a torn patellar tendon.
Still, wide receiver is the other major position of interest. If Houston opts to go wideout in the first round, names like Arizona’s Tet McMillan, Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, Missouri’s Luther Burden, and Texas' Matthew Golden offer a blend of polish, upside, and explosiveness.
A best-case scenario? The Texans land an offensive lineman in the first round and then leverage their extra third-round pick to trade up for a sliding receiver like Burden early in the second. That would give Houston immediate trench help and another weapon for Stroud without having to choose between the two priorities.
No matter what direction the Texans go, this year’s draft is set to be the most unpredictable of the Stroud era. And that might be just how Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans like it.
We have so much more to cover. Don't miss the video below as the crew from Texans on Tap discusses all the topics above and much more!
And be sure to watch our live reaction to the Texans' first round pick this Thursday night on our SportsMap Texans YouTube channel!
*ChatGPT assisted.
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