Just a couple of days ago we were sharing our very unhappy reactions to Jacob deGrom no longer being a Met. Thankfully, Steve Cohen works fast, and now we have Justin Verlander. So, what are our thoughts on this? Naturally, they’re much happier and more positive than our last roundtable!
John Sheridan
The Mets had given out the highest AAV to Max Scherzer before topping it by signing Justin Verlander. They also have previously given out the largest contract for a SS (Francisco Lindor) and reliever (Edwin Díaz). Keep in mind, they’re not done. This is a payroll pushing or will exceed $300 million. It took the Wilpons 3+ years to do that. There were promises made by Steve Cohen when he purchased the team, and so far, he has followed through on all of them.
Matt Mancuso
The Mets made about the best about-face move possible. Verlander offers the same ceiling as Jacob deGrom, but his floor should stand to be higher. I’m still surprised on how the Mets are acting like an intelligent big-market team, I must admit, but it’s a change I’m happy to see.
Dan Quiñones
Verlander’s age may concern some, but the reigning AL Cy Young winner looks like he still has plenty left in the tank. Verlander and Scherzer were both elite in 2022, so the duo at the top of the rotation should be as good as any in baseball. The fact that the team lost Jacob deGrom and filled that hole instantly with a pitcher who isn’t far behind his talent level is a testament to this front office and ownership group.
Andrew Steele-Davis
This was the best possible decision the Mets could have made. After Jacob deGrom left, an elite arm to pair with Max Scherzer at the top of the rotation was needed and Verlander is exactly that. His Hall of Fame worthy resume speaks for itself and, yes, the age is a concern, but 2022 was proof that Verlander still has some of his very best baseball left in him. Plus, and more importantly, the Mets are firmly in win-now mode and the three-time Cy Young Award winner and nine-time All-Star is the perfect starter to help you win now. This is yet another solid sign that Steve Cohen is determined to make the Mets a perennial winner and a well-respected big market team that can attract stars year in and year out.
Patrick Glynn
Listen, I’ll take it. While the sadness of deGrom will likely linger into the 2023 season, having two of the best four pitchers of the last 20 years—and the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner—at the top of the rotation will help ease that. Health is obviously the scary part, and the Mets have more work to do to add depth to what will likely be the oldest rotation in baseball. But if Verlander can bring 50% of the positive emotions deGrom gave fans while offering 90% of the production, I think they’ll take it. In past years, deGrom leaving would mark many years of sadness, likely even more years of wondering when a number would get retired, and even more years of wondering “what if.” Under the Cohen regime, though, you know the number will get retired and there might even be a statue for the second-best pitcher in Mets history. That allows you to focus on the results of moves like bringing in Verlander. Without deGrom, he was the best move the Mets could’ve made for the rotation. They made it.
Michelle Ioannou
Sure, I’ve already had Phillies fans ask me “how much does Verlander really have left in him?” Well, I guess we’ll just see. Steve Cohen is no dummy – he didn’t sign him to a long-term deal because of his age. But what Cohen shows us here is that he’s not playing any games – he lost deGrom and he worked real fast to get another Cy Young winner in the rotation.
