MLB Trade Rumors: Astros Passed on Bringing Back Another 2017 World Series Winner
But they had a chance to bring back yet another member of that tainted 2017 World Series team, but passed on the opportunity, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
(The Astros) passed on the idea of trying to re-acquire Justin Verlander at the deadline.
The San Francisco Giants had the three-time Cy Young Winner on the trade block, as they decided to sell off some assets.
He does have full no-trade rights, but one could surmise that he would have waived that in order to return to his old team for a third time, and try for a third World Series title.
But Verlander, now 42, is not the same pitcher he was in 2017, when he posted a ridiculous 1.06 ERA for the Astros in five starts after they acquired him in a deadline deal from the Detroit Tigers. He followed that up with a 2.21 in the postseason, with a 0.81 WHIP, and a 38:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio to earn his first ring.
He followed that up in 2022 with another Cy Young Award and another World Series ring with the Astros.
But his second stint in Houston ended after 2024 with a 5.48 ERA that season in 17 starts, and plenty of time on the injured list. This year with the Giants, he went 1-8 with a 4.29 ERA and a bloated 1.45 WHIP, and his strikeouts are down to a near career low 7.7 K/9.
In the end, the Astros decided to pass on a third helping of Verlander.
