New York Mets find Jacob deGrom replacement with Justin Verlander
The New York Mets needed to find a replacement for Jacob deGrom when their ace bolted for Texas. It did not take long for that to happen.
According to Jeff Passan from ESPN, the Mets have agreed to a deal with Justin Verlander. Joel Sherman of the New York Post notes that it is a two year deal worth $86 million and includes an option for 2025.
New York Mets strike quickly with Justin Verlander
Normally, it would be fair to question the logic of handing that much money to a pitcher that will be 40 years old before the start of the 2023 campaign. However, Verlander showed that he has plenty left in the tank after a dominant season last year.
Despite coming off of Tommy John surgery, and having appeared in one game game over the previous two seasons, Verlander was still a force to be reckoned with. He posted a major league leading 1.75 ERA and a 0.829 WHiP over his 175 innings, striking out 185 batters with 29 walks. He was an All Star, won his third Cy Young award, finished tenth in the AL MVP vote, and won a World Series. Not a bad comeback season.
This move also has shades of the Mets 2021-22 offseason. They had wanted to bring Steven Matz back to New York, only for him to head to St. Louis. The Mets responded by making a flurry of moves, highlighted by the signing of Max Scherzer. Verlander may not be close to the end of the offseason.
He is also a piece that the Mets needed. Owner Steve Cohen has been clear that he wants to bring a championship to New York and is willing to spend whatever it takes to make that happen. Pairing Verlander and Scherzer is a great start to making that happen.
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The New York Mets have found their replacement for Jacob deGrom. Justin Verlander is coming to town on a two year deal to take his place.