The 2022 AL East race is already heating up — in November.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Yankees, Blue Jays and Red Sox all have interest in free agent starting pitcher Justin Verlander after losing out on Noah Syndergaard, who signed a one-year deal with the Angels.
Verlander, a two-time Cy Young award winner, has until 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday to accept an $18.4 million qualifying offer from the Houston Astros, but the 39-year-old has reportedly indicated he wants a contract "of some length."
That adds some more risk for any team that signs the right-hander as he is coming off Tommy John surgery and has not pitched healthy since the 2019 season.
Listen to Boston sports talk now on Audacy and shop the latest Red Sox team gear
However, Verlander won the Cy Young that year and, by all accounts, impressed when he threw in front of scouts last week.
The AL East trio likely won’t be the only ones interested in Verlander, but he is believed to prefer the East Coast, according to Sherman, who also noted that the Blue Jays and Red Sox both made aggressive offers for Syndergaard. It would make sense if they turn their attention to Verlander.
The Yankees may have the upper hand when it comes to courting Verlander, though.
Listen to New York sports talk now on Audacy and shop the latest Yankees team gear
Per Sherman, Verlander has been rehabbing at the Florida facility owned and operated by Eric Cressey, the Yankees’ director of player health and performance. It’s the same place Corey Kluber rehabbed last year before signing with the Yankees.
Verlander was also teammates with Gerrit Cole for two years in Houston and their spouses reportedly get along.
But the Yankees are also prioritizing other areas outside of starting pitching, namely shortstop, center field, first base and catcher. As Sherman noted, how much will Hal Steinbrenner be willing to shell out for someone like Verlander, who comes with plenty of question marks?
A two-year deal worth $40 million or more is not out of the question for Verlander. It may just be a matter of which team is willing to meet his price.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram