The New York Mets have struck a deal with three-times Cy Young Award-winner Justin Verlander, signing the 39-year-old All-Star pitcher to a two-year, $86m deal, according to media reports.
In the day’s other big deal, the Mets’ NL East rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies, are believed to have signed shortstop Trea Turner to an 11-year, $300m contract.
Source: Turner is getting 11 years, $300 million with a full no trade clause https://t.co/mvpDfFLrHb
— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) December 5, 2022
Verlander helped the Houston Astros to their second World Series title in 2022, winning Game 5 on the road against the Phillies, and had a 1.75 ERA in the regular season, the lowest in Major League Baseball. The nine-time All-Star missed 2021 recovering from Tommy John surgery but was brilliant for the Astros in their title-winning season. He will join another multiple Cy Young Award-winner, Max Scherzer, in the Mets rotation. Like Verlander, the 38-year-old Scherzer is in the final stages of his career.
The Mets’ long-time ace, Jacob deGrom, joined the Texas Rangers on an $185m, five-year deal last week.
Turner will bolster a Phillies team that has struggled with defense in recent seasons. He is known for his power and speed, and returns to the NL East after starring for the Washington Nationals between 2015 and 2021. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season and part of 2021. Turner was the NL batting champion in 2021 and led the league in stolen bases in 2018 and 2021. He was considered one of the best available free-agents this offseason.
