The Mets have traded their second ace of the week, this time it’s Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros. Verlander has agreed to waive his full no-trade clause, much like Max Scherzer did when the Mets sent him to the Rangers. Both of the Mets’ aces to begin the year are now foes in the AL West race.
The Mets will receive prospect Drew Gilbert in return, plus one other prospect, according to Bob Nightengale. Gilbert was the Astros’ first-round pick in 2022 and is generally viewed as a Top 50 prospect in baseball. He also reports the Mets will get Ryan Clifford, the Astros’ fourth-overall prospect. The 20-year-old Clifford is slashing .291/.399/.520/.919 across two levels of A-ball this year.
Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline said he would’ve ranked Gilbert and Clifford No. 1 and 2 in his Astros midseason update.
As far as the money, the Mets will pay $52.5 million of the $92 million left owed to Verlander. Around $35 million of that will come for the rest of this year and next season. The remaining $17.5 million will come from half of Verlander’s $35 million vesting option if he pitches at least 140 innings in 2024.
Verlander picked up his 250th win on Sunday when he beat the Nationals and lowered his season ERA to 3.15, though his ERA over his last seven starts is 1.49. The 40-year-old has pitched 94 /13 innings across 16 starts and has a 1.7 fWAR this year.
Justin Verlander. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
The Mets signed Verlander before the 2023 season to form a two-headed ace tandem at the top of their rotation. They gave him a two-year, $86.67 deal with a vesting option of $35 million for the 2025 season that is triggered if he pitches 140 innings during the 2024 season and an independent exam determines he doesn’t have a right arm injury that would prevent him from being on the 2025 Opening Day roster.
The Mets have now dealt Eduardo Escobar, David Robertson, Max Scherzer, Mark Canha, and Verlander this season. They will enter their game on Tuesday after the 6:00 p.m. ET deadline five games under .500.
