The Houston Astros have a deal in place to reacquire pitcher Justin Verlander, multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday.
Verlander, 40, left the Astros after last season’s World Series championship run through free agency, signing with the New York Mets. He has won 250 games in his career.
Neither team has confirmed the deal, but MLB.com reported the Mets will receive outfielders Drew Gilbert (Houston’s No.1 prospect) and Ryan Clifford (Houston’s No.4 prospect).
The Major League Baseball trade deadline is at 5 p.m. CT on Tuesday.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner is 6-5 with a 3.15 ERA this season. He has a 1.69 ERA in his last six starts.
Verlander has a no-trade clause, but the MLB Network reported the right-hander has waived it.
The Astros (60-47) trail the Texas Rangers (60-46) by only one-half game in the American League West divisional race. The Rangers obtained pitcher Max Scherzer from the Mets on Sunday. Scherzer is expected to pitch for the Rangers on Thursday night.
The Mets, meanwhile, have been struggling this season at 50-55. They’re fourth in the National League East and already have traded Scherzer, outfielder Mark Canha, and closer David Robinson.
Verlander received a standing ovation from Mets fans on Sunday.
“The fans tonight were pretty incredible,” he said in reaction. “I would be pretty remiss if I didn’t say thank you to them. That was a nice ovation. I don’t know what’s to come, but that, I’ll always remember.”
Verlander previously played for the Astros from 2017-2022. He won two American League Cy Young Awards, two World Series titles and threw his third career no-hitter while playing for Houston.
The Astros have been trying to rebuild their pitching staff for a 2023 playoff ruin. They reacquired reliever Kendall Graveman from the White Sox on Friday.
Pitchers Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia have been declared out for the season. Jose Urquidy will return to the starting rotation this week after missing three months with shoulder inflammation.
Verlander, who won 61 of his 250 games with the Astros, signed a two-year, $86.7 million contract with the Mets in December.
