Astros acquire Justin Verlander in surprising move.
The Houston Astros have acquired a big prize just before the trading deadline of September 1st. In exchange for three top talented minor leaguers, the American League West team hauled in Justin Verlander. By getting the 34-year old right hander before September 1st, he can be placed on the Astros’ post season roster. Another nice detail is that Verlander will be under club control through the 2019 season.
After being hit by one of the severest natural disasters in the history of the US, Houston can use something to feel good about. Of course, the acquisition of Justin Verlander by the Houston Astros will never be a compensation for the loss of materials and loved ones, but Astros fans may wake up with in a good mood after they heard the news.
Yesterday, late in the day, there were rumors about the Astros having acquired Verlander in a trade. Then they did not and then they did again. Eventually, the news was announced that the Astros got Verlander from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for some top prospects of the Astros: Franklin Perez (No. 3), outfielder Daz Cameron (No. 9) and catcher Jake Rogers (No. 11). Earlier in the day, the Astros also acquired Cameron Maybin in a waiver trade.
After going just 6-7 in the first four months of the season, Verlander seems to have found his groove again as he went 4-1 in August with a 2.36 ERA. With the addition of Verlander, the Astros’ starting rotation looks pretty formidable. Left-hander Dallas Keuchel and righty Collin McHugh, both of whom have pitched fairly well since their return from the disabled list, righty Lance McCullers, who is scheduled to be activated from the DL on Tuesday or Wednesday and right hander Charlie Morton.
The Astros also tried to acquire closer Zack Britton from the Orioles, but that deal fell through after a trade chip of the Astros did not pass the medical test.
What do the Astros get in Verlander? A mostly reliable pitcher with a 3.49 career ERA and a pitcher with playoff experience, although his playoff stats are quite variable. In the 2006, 2011 and 2014 division series, he posted an ERA of 5.00 and higher. In the ALCS of 2006 and 2011, his ERA was also North of 5.00. But on the other hand, he also posted an ERA of 1.08 (2012) and 1.13 (2013) in the ALCS and 0.56 and 0.00 in the 2012 and 2013 division series.
Does the acquisition of Verlander make the Astros a playoff caliber team? Not yet. In the month of August, the Astros were hit by the injury bug and posted an 11-17 record. But now, with several players projected to come off the DL (Carlos Correa, the aforementioned Lance McCullers and Michael Feliz), the team will look better than they did in August. But before they will be a playoff caliber team, the bats must wake up.
Nevertheless, the acquisition of Verlander will give Astro Nation something to smile about.