(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
During the offseason the New York Mets signed ace Justin Verlander, the reigning AL Cy Young award winner, to a two-year, $86.6 million deal that also contained a vesting option worth $35 million for 2025.
The option vests if Verlander pitches at least 140 frames in 2024.
On Tuesday, before the trade deadline, the Mets agreed to send Verlander to the Houston Astros in exchange for two very good outfield prospects: Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford.
In order to get two legitimate prospects for a pricy 40-year-old pitcher (a very good one, though), the Mets had to eat money.
A lot of it.
Fortunately for New York, owner Steve Cohen has plenty of it.
“The New York #Mets are sending the #Astros about $54 million in the Justin Verlander trade, one executive said, if Verlander’s $35 million option in 2025 becomes vested. Verlander is owed about $93 million, meaning the #Astros would pay Verlander about $29 million for 2 1/3 years,” MLB insider Bob Nightengale tweeted.
The New York #Mets are sending the #Astros about $54 million in the Justin Verlander trade, one executive said, if Verlander’s $35 million option in 2025 becomes vested.
Verlander is owed about $93 million, meaning the #Astros would pay Verlander about $29 million for 2 1/3 years
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 1, 2023
To this point, Verlander is owed $93 million.
The Mets, according to Nightengale, agreed to pay $54 million in the event the 2025 option vests, which is likely if there is no major injury.
In any case, Houston is on the hook for $29 million for two-and-a-half years of Verlander, which is not bad at all and justifies the cost of trading two very solid prospects.
At the end of the day, the deal has the potential to benefit both sides in due time.
The Mets got younger and capitalize on a good player in a year in which they won’t compete, the Astros get an ace for their World Series push, and Verlander goes to a familiar place where he will have a chance to win again.
The post Mets Reportedly Sending A Fortune To Houston Along With Justin Verlander appeared first on The Cold Wire.