The New York Mets introduced Justin Verlander to the media and fans on Tuesday morning.
Verlander was the biggest acquisition the Mets made so far in the 2022-2023 offseason. He won the 2022 AL Cy Young and led MLB with a 1.75 ERA at age 39.
While Verlander was the cherry on top, the Mets have made a flurry of offseason moves to improve upon their 101-win season last year.
Steve Cohen’s Influence
At the beginning of his introduction, Verlander spoke about the similar vision he shared with Steve Cohen and the organization:
“I had a lovely conversation with Steve (Cohen) and we didn’t really talk about baseball. It gave me a really positive vibe for his vision of what this franchise is and he wants to make this franchise amazing. Speaking with Billy, and the rest of the staff, Buck, they all share that same vision and passion to do whatever is necessary to make this a championship-caliber organization again. I wanted to be a part of this vision moving forward and obviously, this organization took a giant step forward last year and they had a great season. I think it’s only going to continue in the right direction.”
Championships were a common theme throughout the press conference. While Verlander won the World Series twice during his tenure with the Astros, it seems like he still pushing for more at age 40. The interest is mutual with Cohen, who stated he wanted to win a championship within five years of buying the club. He is entering year three without a ring.
Verlander also stated in his opening that signing with the Mets came with a leap of faith. When asked about what reassured him in the signing process, Verlander said:
“Steve (Cohen). I think that was the short answer. Obviously, Billy has a vision and knows the team intimately and what best puzzle pieces fit, but ultimately those pieces aren’t cheap. In the background, Steve was like, ‘we’re going to do what’s necessary to make this organization a championship-caliber ballclub,’ and I had faith in that.”
Verlander spoke about Cohen multiple times in his press conference. He mentioned that his conversations with the owner were “personal” and gave off the impression that he wasn’t just an investment.
Pitching in New York
Along with questions about the organization, Verlander was asked about pitching in New York City.
“I’m really excited about it. I actually lived in the city for an off-season. I love the vibe here, I love the city, and I love the people. To have the opportunity to come pitch in the city is something I’ve always wanted the chance to do and to be here now is a full circle moment.”
While pitching in New York is exciting, it comes with a lot of pressure. When asked about the pressure, Verlander stated he wouldn’t shy away from it.
“Nobody can put more pressure on me than I can myself. I expect to go out and there and be the best version of myself. I know that big contracts and big cities come with pressure but it’s something you can’t shy away from.”
Verlander has been in many pressure situations throughout his career. He has started in nine World Series games and holds a 3.64 ERA across 207 2/3 postseason innings.
If everything works out for the Mets, Verlander will add to both his post-season innings and World Series starts. The Mets have only made it to the playoffs once under Cohen and have not won a playoff series.
Mets Still Have Moves to Make
With a World Series in mind, Cohen has retooled his team going into the 2023 season. He built a rotation and bullpen almost from scratch, and it seems like he may not be done. Billy Eppler was asked about the remainder of the offseason after the press conference, noting he doesn’t think the Mets are done making moves.
“I wouldn’t say we’re completely done, but we’ll be opportunists on the things that were able to do. Hopefully, they’ll be a couple of things that get announced in the near future. A lot of the moves are going to be on the margins and will round out the main acquisitions we’ve made this far.”
Earlier today, MMO’s Mike Mayer reported the team has contacted the White Sox about Liam Hendriks.
