New York Mets: 3 potential trade destinations for Justin Verlander

With eight days remaining until the trade deadline, rumors are going to start surfacing more and more. MLBNetwork’s Jon Morosi reported that the San Francisco Giants are evaluating New York Mets pitcher Justin Verlander and whether or not he will be available at the deadline.

Let’s be honest, the Mets are one of the most disappointing teams in 2023 with high expectations at the beginning of the season. They have some company as a disappointing team with the San Diego Padres, but the Friars are starting to make a push in the days leading up to the deadline to prove to their front office that they are worth being a buyer rather than a seller.

If the Mets do decide to trade some pieces, they have some that other teams would be very interested in. Outfielder Mark Canha has some value to a contender, as do relief pitchers David Robertson and Adam Ottavino. It’s highly unlikely that teams would be willing to take on Max Scherzer and his contract at his age and performance this season, but it appears that teams could be interested in Verlander.

At 40 years old, the hard-throwing right-hander missed the first month of the season in New York with a shoulder injury, but since his return, he has gone 4-5 with a 3.47 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 83 innings. Those numbers are not going to jump off the screen at you, but he is just one short year removed as the American League Cy Young winner with the Houston Astros.

Can he get close to his Cy Young form from last season? Unlikely, but if a team can get him to waive his no-trade clause at the deadline and realize that this could be his last chance at a championship, he could be a sneaky good addition to someone’s rotation. With that said, here are three trade destinations for the veteran.