Life is funny, and sometimes so is the Major League Baseball trade deadline. A rumored major trade just went through that will send ace Justin Verlander right back to the Houston Astros.
After going in on signing the reigning American League Cy Young winner, the New York Mets traded Verlander right back to where they got him from. Verlander goes to Houston in exchange for outfield prospect Drew Gilbert, “plus at least one other prospect,” according to MLB.com reporter Mark Feinsand.
The Mets will receive OF Drew Gilbert from the Astros in the deal for Verlander, per source, plus at least one other propsect. It's not known how much money the Mets will send to Houston.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) August 1, 2023
Feinsand, appearing on MLB Network’s Trade Deadline special, added that the other prospect was outfielder Ryan Clifford.
Verlander cashed in on a 2-year, $86.66 million contract with the Mets in the off-season. After winning 101 games in the 2022 MLB season, the team had high aspirations. But the Mets’ season became a complete disaster. They are 50-55 and 17.5 games behind the first-place juggernaut Atlanta Braves. In recent days, the Mets have traded David Robertson, Mark Canha, and Max Scherzer. And now, after this blockbuster trade, Justin Verlander as well.
In 2022, the Astros drafted Drew Gilbert with the No. 28 overall pick. He ranked as the team’s top prospect before the trade, while Clifford ranked 4th. So, all in all, it’s a quality return for the Mets, who felt they had to part ways with the multi-time Cy Young winner.
Financial details aren’t yet available, but the Mets are reportedly expected to send money along the way as well.
The MLB world is buzzing over the blockbuster Justin Verlander trade.
Quick photoshop of Justin Verlander in an Astros uniform 😆 pic.twitter.com/R8rsZ6l3oS
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 1, 2023
The Mets are reportedly acquiring the Astros' top-ranked prospect, Drew Gilbert in the Justin Verlander trade.
Gilbert was the Astros' first-round pick last year and represented Houston at this year's Futures Game. pic.twitter.com/WB3eF8HDAy
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 1, 2023
So in the span of three days, the Mets have traded Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. Had you told me a week or two ago that would happen, I would have never believed it.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) August 1, 2023
The Astros are 1-0 in the World Series when making a mid-season trade for Justin Verlander https://t.co/ludURiT5Yj
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) August 1, 2023
The portion of Justin Verlander’s career that’s going to make everyone go “OH THATS RIGHT!” when they look at his Baseball Reference page. pic.twitter.com/8mIww6jOEj
— MLB Deadline News (@MLBDeadlineNews) August 1, 2023
