VERDICT ON VERLANDER
Astros get their answer on qualifying offer, Justin Verlander
Nov 17, 2021, 4:15 pm
Verlander rejects the qualifying offer. Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images.
Verlander on opening day
Editor's note: Justin Verlander has agreed to a deal with the Astros after rejecting the qualifying offer, click here to learn more.
Jon Heyman is reporting that Brandon Belt is the only player to accept the qualifying offer, which means Justin Verlander has declined the 1-year 18.4 million dollar qualifying offer from the Astros.
Brandon Belt is the only player to accept qualifying offer
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 17, 2021
This shouldn't come as much of a surprise based on the interest level in Verlander. According to reports, Justin Verlander has several teams interested in signing him. The Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Braves are just a few of the teams rumored to have interest.
Yankees are among teams in on future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander, who's expected to have a decision fairly soon, perhaps even this week. Jays and many others are interested as well. He has multiyear and 1-year options.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 17, 2021
Jon Heyman is hearing Verlander may not have to settle on a one-year deal, so teams will have to weigh the risk of injury for a player approaching 39 years of age coming off Tommy John surgery. The last time JV pitched a full season, he won the Cy Young Award in 2019 with the Astros.
Jeff Passan also reported on Verlander's rejection of the offer. The good news for Astros fans is that Houston will receive two compensation draft picks in 2022 if the team is unable to sign Verlander and Carlos Correa long-term.
Final tally for the one-year, $18.4M qualifying offer, per sources:
Accepted: Brandon Belt.
Rejected: Nick Castellanos, Michael Conforto, Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman, Raisel Iglesias, Robbie Ray, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Trevor Story, Chris Taylor, Justin Verlander.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 17, 2021
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.