The Astros need arms. With Framber Valdez likely headed elsewhere and Ranger Suarez now wearing Red Sox red, Houston’s facing a pitching crunch that’s getting tighter by the day.
Maybe it’s time to look backward instead of forward.
FanSided’s Chris Landers thinks the Astros should bring back Justin Verlander for what could be one final ride in Houston orange.
Granted, 13 starts isn’t a ton to go on if you’re a team considering investing in the righty this winter. But he’ll likely be available on a one-year deal, and he could be a godsend to a team in need of a boost to the back end of its rotation. We know Verlander is comfortable in Houston, and the Astros just so happen to be a team seeking pitching depth on the cheap right now.
It’s not the worst idea. Verlander struggled early last season with the Mets, finishing with a 4-11 record and 3.85 ERA across 152 innings. Those numbers don’t exactly scream “ace material” anymore.
But here’s the thing – he found something in the second half. Verlander posted a 2.60 ERA over his final starts, showing flashes of the pitcher who dominated hitters for two decades.
The financials make sense too. Spotrac projects him to land a one-year, $7.8 million deal. For a rotation that’s looking thin, that’s backend starter money for a guy who knows how to pitch in October.
What makes this different is the fit. Verlander’s comfortable in Houston – he won a World Series there, built relationships, knows the organization inside and out. The Astros aren’t exactly flush with payroll flexibility right now, so a short-term deal for a proven veteran who can eat innings makes plenty of sense.
There’s also the Hunter Brown angle. Houston’s young ace could benefit from having Verlander around as a mentor. Few pitchers in baseball history have seen more situations or handled more pressure than Verlander.
The way I see it, this isn’t about Verlander being the pitcher he was five years ago. It’s about the Astros needing reliable innings from someone who won’t fold under pressure. At 41, Verlander’s not going to give you 200 innings or strike out 250 hitters.
But he might give you 25-30 starts and keep you competitive while younger arms develop.
From where I’m sitting, that sounds like exactly what Houston needs right now.
