Astros get their answer on qualifying offer, Justin Verlander

VERDICT ON VERLANDER

Verlander on opening day
Verlander rejects the qualifying offer. Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images.

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.

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.

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.

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The Angels beat the Astros, 3-0. Composite Getty Image.

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.

Key moment

The home run by Peraza.

Key stat

It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.

Up next

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.

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