All-Star Pitcher Justin Verlander Rejoins the Houston Astros
The Houston Astros made a significant move at the MLB trade deadline by acquiring three-time CY Young Award winner Justin Verlander from the New York Mets. This major transaction made waves throughout the league.
Verlander, who previously played for the Astros, had a brief stint with the Mets this season. To finalize the deal, the Astros traded outfielders Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford to the Mets. Gilbert is considered the top prospect in the Astros' minor league system, while Clifford is ranked fourth in the farm team.
Several other teams reportedly expressed interest in Verlander, including the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, and Tampa Bay Rays. However, the Astros ultimately won the bidding war to secure his services.
Meanwhile, the Mets faced a disappointing season with a 50-55 record and a fourth-place finish in the NL East, trailing the seven teams fighting for three NL wild card positions. Despite having one of the league's highest payrolls, the team's performance was dismal.
Mets owner and renowned hedge fund manager Steve Cohen decided on a cost-effective strategy instead of wasting resources on a futile effort in August and September. The Mets' general manager, Billy Eppler, assured reporters that they weren't having a fire sale but were "repositioning" the owner's investment in the club.
After trading closer David Robertson and pitcher Max Scherzer, the Mets also let go of outfielder Mark Canha to the Milwaukee Brewers. However, Verlander's fate was also uncertain as Eppler denied a fire sale.
The Mets even considered trading slugger Pete Alonso, but no lucrative offers materialized. Although Alonso was taken off the trading block, there is still uncertainty about whether other Mets players might be traded before the deadline.
Verlander, 40, boasts an impressive career, having played six seasons with the Astros and helped them win two World Series titles in 2017 and 2022. He won the Cy Young three times, most recently in 2022 with the Astros. In the season, he posted an 18-4 record, a 1.75 ERA, and a 0.83 WHIP in 28 starts.
The Mets signed Verlander to a two-year, $86.7 million contract this past offseason. In 16 starts with the Mets, he achieved a 6-5 record, a 3.15 ERA, and a 1.14 WHIP.
In June, Verlander had a rough month, going 0-2 and posting a 1-4 record for the Mets. But he bounced back in July with a 4-1 record and a 4.22 ERA in six starts. In his last three starts, Verlander was undefeated (3-0) with a 1.69 ERA.
The Astros are aiming for a title defense with Verlander's return. They currently rank second in the AL West with a 60-47 record and the fourth-best record in the AL. If the season ended today, they would secure one of the three AL wild card spots. However, the Astros face stiff competition from the division leaders, the Texas Rangers, who acquired Scherzer in an effort to improve their postseason chances.
The Astros' odds of winning the 2023 World Series are +700 on DraftKings, making them the third favorite team in the futures market behind the Atlanta Braves (+330) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (+500). According to FanGraphs' latest postseason projection, the Astros have a 12% chance of winning the World Series, the highest percentage in the AL.
Despite rumors about other potential trades, the Astros are now the bookie's favorite to win the AL West at -130 odds, while the Rangers climb to +150 odds. The Astros have a 58.5% chance to win the division according to FanGraphs.
Passing the Baton
The Astros have been fortunate enough to send last year's World Series MVP, shortstop Jeremy Peña, to the All-Star Game. But their long-term pitching plan has been up in the air.
Pitching prospects J.B. Bukauskas, Rogelio Armenteros, and Brandon Bielak have all had their struggles in the majors. Meanwhile, major league veterans like Luis Garcia and José Urquidy showed promise but faced some ups and downs.
Notable midseason call-ups like Ryne Stanek and Pedro Báez failed to make an impact in the starting rotation. However, lefty Justice Sheffield displayed some potential in his brief stint with the Astros.
While the Astros' rotation has its flaws, acquiring Verlander fills a critical role for the Astros' chase for the 2023 title. The talented veteran provides exceptional leadership and experience in postseason playoffs, which are crucial to sustaining long-term success.
Verlander's presence in the clubhouse has already impacted the younger players. 25-year-old right-handed starter Luis Garcia, who often shares stories about playing catch with Verlander before his games, emphasizes this positive influence:
With Verlander once again part of the Astros family, it signals a new phase of leadership for Houston's dominant pitching lineup.
In the race for the AL pennant, the Houston Astros have emerged as the favorite at odds of +340. The Tampa Bay Rays aren't far behind with +350 odds. Completing the top five contenders are the Baltimore Orioles (+500), Texas Rangers (+600), and the Toronto Blue Jays (+700).
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Source: www.casino.org
