Report: Justin Verlander Agrees To Deal With New York Mets

American League Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander (pictured as a Detroit Tiger) has agreed to a two-year deal to join the New York Mets, according to media reports.

The former Detroit Tiger and Houston Astro will get an average of $43 million for the next two seasons with a vesting option for 2025.  He will join his former Tiger teammate, Max Scherzer, in New York.

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Verlander won the American League Cy Young Award in 2022 with an 18-4 record and a 1.75 earned run average.  He struck out 185 batters in 175 innings pitched.  It's JV's third Cy Young Award of his career.  And he helped the Astros win their second World Series title since 2017 just last month.

JV spent the first 11 1/2 years of his Major League career with the Detroit Tigers.  His best season in Detroit, statistically, was in 2011.  That's when he won the American League Most Valuable Player and the AL Cy Young Award with a 24-5 record, a 2.40 ERA, and 250 strikeouts in 251 innings pitched.

He was traded to the Houston Astros in August of 2017.  And he helped the Astros win their first World Series in franchise history that fall.

But he was beset by arm problems during his time in Houston.  And he had Tommy John surgery after starting only one game in 2020.  And he missed the entire 2021 season while recovering from said surgery.

Verlander has thrown three no-hitters in his career.  His 244 career wins are amongst the best among active pitchers.  And he also has struck out almost 3,200 batters in his career.

The Tigers drafted Verlander out of Old Dominion University in the first round (2nd overall) of the 2004 MLB First-Year Player Draft.  He joined the Tigers for two starts in 2005 before making the full-time roster in 2006, winning the AL Rookie of the Year and helping the Tigers make the World Series.

JV turns 40 years old next February 20th.