Mets Complete Firesale, Trade Verlander Back to Houston

Mets starting pitcher Justin Verlander is on his way back to Houston, to reunite with the team he won two World Series with in 2017 and 2022, after the Mets dealt the 40-year old on trade deadline day. 

In return the Mets get back two of the Astros Top four prospects, outfielders Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford. 

Gilbert is ranked as the Astros top prospect by MLB insiders. Clifford is ranked fourth in the Houston farm system, and according to Jeff Passon of ESPN, Clifford might have a higher ceiling. 

Gilbert and Clifford join Luisangel Acuna as top rated prospects the Mets acquired at the deadline. The Mets got Acuna, the brother of Ronald Acuna Jr. from the Rangers in the Max Scherzer deal. 

Overall, the Mets are paying a large chunk of salary to the Rangers and Astros to take on Verlander and Scherzer, respectively. 

 

According to Bob Nightengale, the Mets are paying $54 million to Verlander over the next two years; Houston will pay only $29 million. That is similar to the deal the Rangers got with Scherzer. The Mets are paying $58 million for him, while Texas contributes $22.5 million.

The Mets are also paying down a large chunk of Mark Canha's salary to play in Milwaukee. 

No matter how one slices it, the trades of Verlander, Scherzer and Canha marks the end of a hugely disappointing season. The Mets had World Series aspirations, and failed to live up to them.  

Now the team is doing a total 180, hits the re-set button and will rebuild over the next two years with the hope that the players they acquired both bolster their farm system, and give the team options moving forward.