HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Over the last couple of days Astros catcher Martín Maldonado had been in contact with Justin Verlander and could sense his former teammate wanted to make his return to Houston. Then, at 9:30 Tuesday morning Maldonado received a text.
“Lets (expletive) go!” a text from Verlander read.
Maldonado replied with a .gif of Verlander falling down while trying to field a bunt during the 2019 World Series.
Following a four month pit stop in Queens, the Astros ace is back after the team sent prospects Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford to the Mets, who will eat a large portion for Verlander’s contract, $35-of-43 million in 2024 and half of his $35 million contract in 2025 if his option vests.
“I feel like it's a winning day today,” Astros third baseman Alex Bregman said before Tuesday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians. “I feel like my body even feels brand new, so I think it's definitely going to provide a huge boost, not only energy wise, but also just to be able to have a guy like him in here who's been in here before, and we know how much he brings, not only to the to the mound, but the clubhouse.”
Bregman had a big grin on his face as he walked over to Astros owner Jim Crane after a batting practice round, and the mood inside the clubhouse matched that look.
“The name speak for itself,” Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña said. “What he's done in the game and how great he's been, wven last year, he was so big for us, so we're excited to have him back.”
Verlander finished with a 3.15 ERA in 16 starts with the Mets after missing the month month of the season with a teres major muscle strain, but that number has dropped to 2.38 with a .585 OPS in the 11 starts he made after six runs over five innings on May 27 at Coors Field.
“He means a lot to this clubhouse,” Maldonado said. “We know what kind of player he is, what kind of pitcher he is what kind of teammate he is.”
Without Verlander and with a myriad of injuries to key players, the Astros entered Tuesday’s game 60-47, a just half game back of the Rangers for first place in the West, with a little bit of breathing room for a wild card. Now with a healthy lineup and Verlander back atop the rotation, the Astros pursuit of becoming the first repeat World Series Champions in more than 20 years gets a boost.
“We have a great team,” Peña said. “We know we have the team to compete and to have a special year, and to add Justin Verlander on top of that, it's a great feeling.”
Verlander will rejoin the Astros for their series against the Yankees in the Bronx this weekend. On Tuesday, Astros owner Jim Crane sent him a simple message: “Welcome back. We missed you. We’ll see you in New York, hope you pitch well”.