The Red Sox didn’t land a starting pitcher before Tuesday’s trade deadline but they reportedly tried to land one of the biggest names on the market.
Boston pursued Justin Verlander before the Mets traded him to the Astros, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. It’s not clear what the Red Sox would have given up in a proposed deal. New York shipped Verlander back to Houston (along with cash) for outfield prospects Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford.
“The Red Sox were among the teams that got shut out in the thin starting-pitching market, along with the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Braves and Reds,” Rosenthal wrote. “But according to sources, they were one of the clubs that pursued a deal for the most accomplished starter who did get moved — three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander.
“The Mets ultimately sent Verlander to his preferred choice, his previous team, the Astros. Verlander, who is under contract through next season with a conditional player option for 2025, might not have waived his no-trade clause for any club but Houston. But his career numbers at Fenway Park — a 3.46 ERA in 75 1/3 innings, including two postseason appearances — probably would not have been a deterrent.”
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The Verlander talks were complicated. In the deal between the Mets and Astros, New York covered a significant portion of Verlander’s contract (they paid $35 million of Verlander’s 2023-24 salary — a total of $86.67 million — and will pay half of his $35 million salary in 2025 if his option vests) an Verlander waived his no-trade clause to return to Houston. It’s unclear if the Mets’ talk with the Red Sox advanced to the point where the sides discussed how much cash would change hands or if Verlander was willing to come to Boston. Verlander, 40, is under contract for next season and has a $35 million vesting option for 2025 that is triggered if he throws 140 innings next season.
Gilbert was Houston’s No. 1 prospect and was pegged by two national outlets (No. 68 by MLB.com and No. 49 by FanGraphs) as a consensus top-70 prospect in baseball at the time of the deal. Clifford would have likely been ranked as Houston’s No. 2 prospect by some sites. Therefore, acquiring Verlander would have cost the Red Sox a premium, even if Marcelo Mayer was off the table. Ceddanne Rafaela, Nick Yorke, Miguel Bleis and Roman Anthony were likely all discussed in talks with New York. Ultimately, Houston was aggressive enough to get the deal done.
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The Red Sox will see plenty of Verlander down the stretch. Boston is set to face Houston seven times in August — for four games at Minute Maid Park from Aug. 21-24 and for three at Fenway Park from Aug. 28-30.
