The New York Mets traded the three-time Cy Young Award winner to the Astros, where he pitched from 2017-2022, in exchange for outfield prospects Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford, the teams announced.
Verlander waived his no-trade clause to facilitate the deal, per Heyman.
The Astros originally acquired Verlander from the Detroit Tigers at the 2017 waiver deadline. He led the franchise to a pair of World Series titles during his five-year tenure with the franchise and won two Cy Young Awards, including last year’s AL honor after returning from Tommy John surgery.
The Mets lured the 40-year-old to Flushing on the heels of his Cy Young win with a two-year, $86.66-million deal this offseason. His contract also contains a $35-million player option that will be triggered if Verlander pitches 140 innings in 2024 and passes medical tests on his right arm.
Verlander and Max Scherzer, formerly teammates in Detroit, were expected to lead the veteran Mets club back to the World Series in 2023. Instead, the team flamed out and ended up as expensive sellers at this year’s deadline. The star pitchers followed David Robertson and Mark Canha out the door, with more Mets players expected to be dealt before the 6 p.m. ET deadline.
Scherzer was traded to the Texas Rangers on Sunday with the Mets paying down a portion of his contract. The next day, Verlander admitted that the deal had him rethinking his commitment to the franchise.
Verlander made just 16 starts in a Mets uniform, posting a 3.15 ERA and 3.81 FIP with 81 strikeouts in that span. He’s coming off a stellar July in which he went 4-1 with a 1.69 ERA and 1.02 WHIP during six starts.
He now rejoins an Astros squad that was looking for a reliable top-tier starter to fill the hole created by his own departure. Verlander will slot in above Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, J.P. France, and rookie Hunter Brown in the rotation, with Jose Urquidy set to return from the IL this weekend.
The 60-47 Astros enter play Tuesday a half-game back of Texas in the AL West. Houston has reached the ALCS in each of the last six seasons. The club is attempting to win its third straight AL pennant and repeat as World Series champion.
Gilbert, perhaps the biggest piece of the Mets’ return, was Houston’s first-round pick (28th overall) out of Tennessee in 2022 and was ranked as their No. 1 prospect by MLB.com before the trade. The 22-year-old has progressed through the minors quickly, hitting .274/.363/.458 with 12 homers, 38 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases in 81 total games between the two levels.
Clifford, 20, was ranked as the Astros’ No. 4 prospect prior to the trade. The North Carolina native owns a .291/.399/.520 slash line with 18 homers and 61 RBIs in 83 total games split between Single-A Fayetteville and High-A Asheville. Clifford has some versatility, starting games at corner outfield spots as well as first base and DH this year.
The Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, and Los Angeles Dodgers were all connected to Verlander this week before he was traded to Houston.
Houston designated infielder Joe Perez for assignment to open a 40-man roster spot for Verlander.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
