With less than a month to go before he turns 43, veteran starting pitcher Justin Verlander is still going strong at the highest level of baseball. Coming off a strong season with the San Francisco Giants, Verlander is now a free agent, and he is looking for a new challenge in 2026.
Several teams have been linked with the veteran, one of them being the Houston Astros. Verlander has enjoyed two stints with the Astros in the past, playing a key role in the team’s World Series wins in 2017 and 2022.
Although Verlander has been a great servant to the club in the past, The Athletic’s Chandler Rome thinks a reunion between the two parties is unlikely. He explained why during Saturday’s episode of “Gallant on Astros.”
“I think they’re at a point now where they’re okay. They don’t need more pitching. I don’t think they would ever turn their nose up to more pitching, you never do that, but (not) for the money that Verlander’s going to want,” Rome said (35:00).
“This is not a situation where he’s going to make the league minimum, he’s going to make $10 million or more. With where they’re at money wise, at this point, I can’t see it happening. There was a very realistic possibility of it happening earlier in the winter. Now that we’ve gotten to this point, I don’t see it happening,” he added.
Analyst Explains Why Justin Verlander Is Still A Great Asset to Any Team in 2026, Speculates About Potential Contract Value
On Tuesday, January 20, MLB Network’s Eduardo Perez explained why he believes Justin Verlander could be a great asset to any team in 2026, while also speculating about how much it may cost to sign the veteran.
“He will not only give you innings, he’ll give you a veteran presence, and also that mentor as well. He made $15 million with the Giants last year. Maybe you give him $12 million and see if he bites. I’m all in on Justin Verlander,” Eduardo Perez said.
“I do not care what the analytics say. Give me the analytics on the person, and the person out of 10 is a 10. That’s who I want around that group of guys. If that’ll make them 5% better, then you’re getting a lot more than what you’re bargaining for. I’m taking Justin Verlander any day on my team,” he added.
Verlander finished the 2025 season with a 4-11 record, 3.85 ERA, and 137 strikeouts.
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