Justin Verlander is blasting off from the fire sale in New York and set to land back in Houston after the Astros re-acquired the two-time World Series champion from the Mets, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
In what was the biggest piece of the trade market yet to drop, Verlander had been at the center of trade rumors for weeks, but he continued to claim he didn’t want to leave the Mets.
“I am committed to trying to win a championship here,” Verlander said just this past weekend.
In fact, he had to waive the no-trade clause in his contract for the Astros to acquire him — the same two-year, $86.66 million contract he just signed prior to this season to go to New York.
In return for Verlander, the Mets are set to receive two minor leaguers from Houston, including the franchise’s top prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, outfielder Drew Gilbert.
Gilbert was the 22nd overall pick by the Astros out of the University of Tennessee just last year and was playing for the team’s Double-A team in Corpus Cristi, Texas.