Is Justin Verlander next to be traded by Mets? Here's what the veteran ace pitcher says
NEW YORK — Justin Verlander barely had time to enjoy the 250th win of his major league career.
After Verlander had held the Nationals to one run across 5⅓ innings with five strikeouts to win his sixth game of the season, also becoming the 49th pitcher to win 250 games, the Mets ace's attention was almost instantly turned toward his future with the team and the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
Verlander's home is in question after the Mets dealt Max Scherzer to the Rangers on Sunday after shipping closer David Robertson to the Marlins last Thursday. Those two deals netted the Mets three future prospects in 21-year-old shortstop Luisangel Acuna, 19-year-old catcher Ronald Hernandez and 18-year-old shortstop Marco Vargas.
"I think Robbie was a tough one, but you don't know the circumstances. The trade package may have been too good to turn down," Verlander said. "Max was obviously supposed to be an important part of this team next season. He's one of our starting pitchers, so when you see that happens, you can't help but think what's in store for next year.
"We play this game to win, you want to win the championship and you want to have the opportunity to do so. It changes my opinion a little bit, yeah."
The 40-year-old three-time Cy Young Award winner is in his first season of a two-year, $86.66 million deal with the Mets. Verlander also has a $35 million vesting option for 2025 if he pitches 140 innings next season.
After missing the first month of the season with a teres major strain, Verlander has been one of the Mets' most dependable starters. Following Sunday's win, Verlander is 6-5 with a 3.15 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 81 strikeouts in 94⅓ innings. He's 4-1 with a 1.69 ERA in six starts in the month of July.
Verlander also has a no-trade clause in his contract and would need to approve any trade that Billy Eppler and the Mets' front office makes. The Mets' moves over the last week have been eye-opening for Verlander, who said he hopes to gather information and make an educated decision with his family's support regarding any potential trade.
"I think Max is a tough sign for trying to go back at it like happened this year," Verlander said. "I'm committed to trying to win a championship here, but if the organization decides that that's not exactly the direction that they think is best fit to go for next year and go for it again, then yeah, I would be more open to it."
As Verlander walked off the mound on Sunday afternoon, he was greeted with a rousing ovation from the 33,861 fans at Citi Field.
Whether that reception is the last one that Verlander receives in New York is to be determined.
"It's been nice to be pitching better as of late, and on that note, the fans tonight were pretty incredible," Verlander said. "I'd be remiss if I didn't say thank you to them. That was a nice ovation. I don't know what's to come but that I'll always remember and appreciate."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Will NY Mets trade Justin Verlander next? Here's what veteran pitcher says
