'Houston Astros have brought back a key member of its starting rotation': Verlander returns to Astros on one-year deal

If the Houston Astros make another deep playoff run next year, they took the first step by resigning stout pitcher Justin Verlander.

FOX Sports MLB Analyst Ben Verlander reported the news of the signing on Twitter.

“The Houston Astros have brought back a key member of its starting rotation in Justin Verlander,” he wrote.

After declining a one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer from the ballclub, the parties were able to come to an agreement that will have the two-time Cy Young winner pitching for the team on a one-year, $25 million deal for 2022 with a player option for 2023.

“But Verlander is expected to be healthy to begin the 2022 campaign, and his presence should be a big boost for the defending AL pennant winners,” Major League Baseball reported. “Since arriving in Houston via trade in August 2017, Verlander has gone 43-15 with a 2.45 ERA over 74 starts. He was an All-Star in both 2018 and ‘19, finishing as the AL Cy Young Award runner-up in the former and winning it in the latter."

Verlander did not play last season due to Tommy John surgery he required to relieve a right forearm strain he suffered during the early part of the shortened 2020 season, according to MLB.

Verlander will be 39 years old when Opening Day begins next year and the hurler resigned with the Astros, helping them win the 2017 World Series title, after declining a contract to join the New York Yankees, according to Larry Brown Sports.

“Yankees offered Verlander $25 million one-year deal. Solid offer but weren’t going to beat the $50M two-year deal with opt out he got from Astros,” MLB Insider Jon Heyman wrote on Twitter.

Through his 16-year MLB career, Verlander has notched 226 wins, a 3.33 ERA and 3,013 strikeouts, which places 19th all-time in strikeouts and second among active pitchers, where he trails his former Tigers teammate Max Scherzer by seven strikeouts.