2 Teams Named Favorites to Sign SP Justin Verlander

Free agent Justin Verlander admitted he hopes he can pitch until his mid-40's but after some injury set backs in the past couple of seasons, some question his ambition. Regardless, Verlander had a throwing session recently and looked good and is certainly on the radar of a few teams this winter.

Free agency opens on Monday and team's can begin to talk to players and their reps. Verlander did not pitch is 2021, and is coming off Tommy John Surgery last October. 

2 Team Race for Verlander's Services

Houston Astros: The Astros are a favorite as they have been tracking Verlander's rehab the entire time of course and seem happy with how the veteran is progressing. He threw last week in front a ton of reps and all signs point to him being ready to go for spring training. Expect the Astros to make a solid one-year offer.

New York Yankees: It seems like the two were inevitably going to find each other and this offseason could finally be it. Verlander turns 39 next February and will only be given a one-year deal. One report out of the New York Post included:
He’s worth discussing, worth spitballing his next turn, because of his potential to be a transformative addition to a pitching staff, be it pairing up with his old Astros teammate Gerrit Cole on the Yankees. Verlander, who is married to model and actress Kate Upton, expressed a desire to be traded from the Tigers to the Yankees in August 2017, only for the Yankees to pass due to budgetary concerns (head-slap emoji), which led to him becoming an Astro and a champion.

Keep an eye on these two teams, along with the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels.

Photo credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports