Skip to content

Report: Astros aren't 'shutting the door' on potential Verlander trade

Mitch Stringer / USA TODAY Sports

The Justin Verlander saga between the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros isn't over just yet.

While negotiations between the two clubs appear to have gone quiet in recent days, the Astros reportedly aren't "shutting the door completely" on a potential trade for the Tigers right-hander, major-league sources indicated to the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo.

After this season, Verlander is still owed a guaranteed $56 million, though he also has a $22-million vesting option for 2020 that will kick in if he finishes in the top five of Cy Young voting in 2019. That amount of money still owed to the 34-year-old pitcher is reportedly one of the biggest hurdles in negotiations, as Cafardo notes the Astros would need to take on a majority of the remaining money, as well as send prospects the other way, to facilitate a deal.

Houston has been rumored to be interested in acquiring Verlander since July, and both clubs were reportedly actively discussing a possible trade for the former Cy Young winner and MVP as recently as Tuesday, though nothing materialized from the talks.

After an up-and-down start to the season, Verlander appears to have regained his form in the second half. In seven starts since the All-Star break in July, Verlander is crafting a 2.72 ERA while holding opponents to a .200/.254/.365 slash line.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox