The New York Mets have a number of questions to answer for their starting rotation prior to Opening Day in 2022. They’re hoping to gain some clarity over whether Noah Syndergaard will accept the $18.4 million qualifying offer they extended over the weekend, and we’ll soon see how much of a priority it is for the club to re-sign Marcus Stroman.
But while they wait, they’re starting to scour the market, which includes Justin Verlander. According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets sent two scouts to watch the former Cy Young and MVP award winner in his first public workout since going under the knife for Tommy John surgery. Obviously, they weren’t the only ones in attendance to see how the right-hander’s rehab has been going.
Heard 15-20 teams were in to see Justin Verlander’s workout today in Florida. Threw about 25 pitches. Clocked in at 94-97 mph. He is among the most fascinating potential free agents. Can still take the $18.4M qualifying offer from the #Astros, but strong chance he tests market.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 8, 2021
As Sherman mentioned in the above tweet, the Houston Astros extended a qualifying offer to Verlander, despite the fact that he’s thrown just six total innings in the big leagues since the start of 2020. If he does indeed test the market, interested teams will have to come up with a financial guarantee of at least the qualifying offer (likely more), along with giving up draft compensation to Houston in order to sign him.
Prior to missing nearly all of the past two seasons, Verlander was enjoying a career renaissance with the Astros. Between 2018 and 2019, he posted consecutive seasons of at least 6.0 fWAR, which was something he hadn’t accomplished since 2009-12 with the Detroit Tigers.
MLB Trade Rumors is predicting a two-year, $40 million guarantee for the soon-to-be 39-year-old hurler, while FanGraphs is predicting his next contract to be somewhere between that the qualifying offer amount.
