Can't help but love JV. Spending that money on a bat will likely prove to be a smarter use of resources. He's an Astros legend and I wouldn't be opposed to retiring his number. From the Mets perspective, this is obviously a huge move, but I still don't trust their rotation. Scherzer, JV and Carrasco is a hell of a top 3 when healthy, but I'd genuinely be shocked if they all three made 25+ starts. Scherzer and Carrasco already have a very proven injury history and JV, while almost always a work horse, could become injury prone at any minute given his age. They still have some work to do. I wouldn't be shocked if they go out and try to sign another SP.
No hard feelings whatsoever, especially since he didn't sign with an AL team and he stayed away from the Dodgers. I was always kind of hoping he would retire an Astro and build enough of a resume in Houston that he'd be more remembered for his time in H-Town than Detroit, but with as strong as the pitching staff is without him and how much money he was going to get, I think this is ultimately the right decision for both sides. His tenure as an Astro is still truly spectacular—with two Cy-Youngs and two rings, he goes down as one of the best pitchers in Astros franchise history.
My biggest fear coming to fruition. No more Kate. Will I also now find Ben Verlander annoying since he will no longer be pushing Stros agenda. Sad day. Baseball wise, another WS!!!
Thanks for the memories JV, I am a tad surprised you picked the Mets but oh well. With your pedigree and what you have to offer I hope you don't spend your last 2 years on a team that sucks, you deserve better
Dont let the door hit ya JV. Will miss the regular season dominance but not the anxiety of having you pitch in the WS. Keep loading up that offense boys and maybe a #4/5 guy in the rotation.
I can't imagine Crane wanted to pay 40+ mil for the guy. Not after Verlander missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Nah, he’s on an NL East team so chances are we face him in the WS. But the Mets are going to have to have a semi trash year and win like 83 games just in time to troll the NL playoffs in order to stick with the script.
Whelp, good for him. The Astros weren't in a position to need to offer that and I certainly can't blame him for going to get it at this stage of his career.
Yeah, Crane basically paid for Verlander's 3rd year up front with him missing those two. Why would he want to pay it again