Justin Verlander has only made one appearance since 2020, but that didn't keep him from being one of the most sought-after pitchers in MLB free agency. The 38-year-old agreed on Wednesday to return to the Houston Astros on a new one-year, $25 million deal, which includes a player option for the 2023 season.
One of the teams in play for Verlander's services was the New York Yankees, though they ultimately missed out. MLB insider Jon Heyman has revealed what Brian Cashman and Co. were willing to offer the two-time Cy Young winner before he decided to re-up with the ‘Stros.
Yankees offered Verlander $25M 1-year deal. Solid offer but weren’t going to beat the $50M 2-year deal with opt out he got from Astros
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 20, 2021
While the Yankees were comfortable matching the $25 million Verlander was seeking, the offer didn't include a player option, making the decision for Verlander to head back to Houston far easier. Assuming the right-hander picks up his option at the year's end, he'd stand to earn $50 million over two years on his new deal with the Astros.
Cashman and the Yankees will now be forced to look for other alternatives to bolster the pitching staff this offseason. Luring Verlander to the Big Apple would have been a power move for the Yanks, but tying up $50 million to a 38-year-old who hasn't pitched a full season's work since 2019 is a risk. After the team took a risk bringing Corey Kluber to the Bronx last year, it's not difficult to see why there's some hesitancy to bring in a veteran coming off a significant injury.
Verlander has spent four seasons in Houston, recording a 43-15 record and 2.45 ERA during that span. He's fanned 640 batters over 477 innings of work and helped the Astros win the 2017 World Series. Houston is clearly optimistic he'll be his usual self when he returns from Tommy John surgery, and they'll hope he can live up to the lucrative contract they handed him.
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