6:12 PM
The Houston Astros and right-handed pitcher Justin Verlander have agreed to a one-year, $25 million contract with a player option for a second season.
During the shortened 2020 season because of elbow troubles, Verlander won the American League Cy Young Award for Houston, but made just one appearance. He had surgery on his elbow in September of 2020 and missed the entire 2021.
James Click, the Astros general manager, said that he looked healthy and sharp at the showcase for about 20 teams.
The Astros made a $18.4 million qualifying offer to Verlander, but he turned it down.
The Astros won the World Series in the year after Verlander was acquired by Houston. He was named the ALCS' most valuable player after going 2-0 with a.606 winning percentage in the Astros' seven-game series win over the New York Yankees.
Verlander won the Cy Young Award for the second time in a row in 2011 when he set career bests with 24 victories and a 2.40 earned run average. Over 17 seasons, the eight-time All-Star has a 3.33 earned run average.
The details of Verlander's contract were reported by FOX 26 in Houston.
The Associated Press and Jeff Passan contributed to the report.
