(SportsRadio 610) - Not only did the Astros hit a home run before Tuesday’s Major League Baseball trade deadline, they belted a grand slam.
To get, you have to give, and that’s what owner Jim Crane did. Once again, Crane’s fingerprints are all over a Justin Verlander trade, only this time they acquired the 40-year-old pitcher from the Mets instead of the Tigers.
General manager Dana Brown and manager Dusty Baker should be thrilled to bring back Verlander for another pennant race against the bitter rival Texas Rangers.
To get Verlander to return to Houston, the Astros gave up two talented minor league outfielders – Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford, both drafted last year.
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Gilbert, a first-round draft choice, has been playing at their Double A affiliate, Corpus Christi. He was the Astros’ highest-rated prospect. Clifford, an 11th-round pick, has been playing at their High-A team in Ashville, N.C. He was their fourth-highest rated prospect. Both are on their way to the Mets’ farm system.
The Astros certainly aren’t hurting for outfielders with Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker and Chas McCormick as their starters. They had a surplus of outfielders in their minor league system. During the offseason, Crane should make trying to extend Tucker a priority.
In his first season with the Astros, Dana Brown said he wasn’t going to pursue another starting pitcher unless it was a deal they couldn’t turn down. Obviously, they couldn’t turn down an opportunity to reunite with Verlander, who is 6-5 with a 3.15 ERA this season. The Mets won five of his six starts in July when his ERA was 1.69.
Reports are the Mets will pay about $53 million of what’s left on Verlander’s contract that was for two years and $86.2 million, with a $35 million vesting option in 2025. To make the deal happen, Verlander waived his no-trade clause.
Verlander joins a rotation that includes Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Hunter Brown, J.P. France and Jose Urquidy, who’s healthy after missing three months. Baker will have the option of going to a six-man rotation if he believes his starters are overworked.
Maybe Verlander will have a positive effect on Valdez, Javier and Brown, who have been inconsistent to erratic. France has been their best and most consistent starter of late. With Valdez, Javier and Brown not pitching as well as 2022, the rotation has been inconsistent for much of the season. It was hampered by injuries to Lance McCullers Jr., Luis Garcia and Urquidy. At least Urquidy is returning to the rotation, and it couldn’t come at a better time.
Considering problems with the starters and bullpen, which was upgraded by reacquiring Kendall Graveman last week, it’s amazing the Astros have remained in contention to win the American League West division or earn a wild-card playoff berth.
The Verlander trade was déjà vu for the Astros. Seconds before the 2017 deadline, Crane entered the negotiations with Detroit and made sure general manager Jeff Luhnow had what he needed to pull off the blockbuster deal for Verlander.
A couple of hours before Tuesday’s deadline, Crane was willing to bolster his rotation with the three-time Cy Young Award winner, including in 2022 when Verlander helped the Astros win their second World Series. It was his second Cy Young Award with the Astros.
The Astros entered Tuesday’s game against the Guardians at Minute Maid Park with a 60-47 record, leaving them one-half game behind the Rangers. The Astros have yet to be in first place in the AL West, but they’ve been closing a gap that reached 6.5 games in June.
The Verlander trade counteracts moves the Rangers made in acquiring starting pitchers Max Scherzer from the Mets and Jordan Montgomery from the Cardinals.
Unfortunately, the Astros and Rangers have only one series remaining Sept. 4-6 at Arlington.
The Astros have reached the American League Championship Series for six consecutive seasons. They played in four World Series and won two over the Dodgers and Phillies.
If Verlander gives them a shot in the right arm like they need, barring more debilitating injuries, they should be in position to compete for a third championship.
John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on SportsRadio 610 and before every practice during training camp on Texans Radio. He also writes three columns a week and does two Houtopia Football Podcasts for SportsRadio610.com.