Verlander decides on free agency
Qualifying offers go to Judge, degrom, Rizzo
NEW YORK — Justin Verlander declined a $25 million option with the Houston Astros to become a free agent on Thursday, five days after helping the team with its second World Series title.
The 39-year-old right-hander likely headed to his third Cy Young Award got his first World Series win in nine starts in Game 5 against Philadelphia. The day before that happened, he said it was too early to think about his future.
“Really and truly it’s been a hell of a ride no matter what happens, whether I stay or don’t,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed my time with this group of guys and the city and getting to know the city.”
Verlander was among four players who became free agents Thursday, raising the total to 165.
Aaron Judge, Jacob degrom and Xander Bogaerts were among 14 free agents who were given $19.65 million qualifying offers by their former teams on Thursday
Dansby Swanson, Trea Turner, Willson Contreras and Carlos Rodón also were given the offers, as were Chris Bassitt, Brandon Nimmo, Nathan Eovaldi, Anthony Rizzo, Joc Pederson, Martín Pérez and Spring Valley product Tyler Anderson.
Players have until Nov. 20 to accept, and top players are expected to decline and pursue more lucrative long-term contracts on the freeagent market. Players can discuss financial offers with all teams starting Friday.
Qualifying offers began after the 2012 season, and only eight of 110 offers have been accepted.
Verlander played for Detroit from 2005 until he was traded to the Astros in August 2017. He agreed to a $66 million contract covering 2020 and 2021, then hurt his elbow and needed Tommy John surgery.
After pitching one game over the previous two seasons, Verlander became a free agent and re-signed with Houston for a $25 million, oneyear deal that included the option. He went 18-4 with a major leaguebest 1.75 ERA in 28 starts, then was 2-0 with a 5.85 ERA in four postseason outings. He is 244-133 with a
3.24 ERA and 3,198 strikeouts in 17 seasons.
“I really did enjoy kind of just talking with some teams and just kind of like hearing their philosophies and getting to talk about my philosophies with pitching and just talk baseball,” he said. “I didn’t get the traditional come into the city and get all the pizzazz because it was a short timeframe.”
Several other players had option decisions due Thursday. Among the other moves, the Los Angeles Dodgers declined third baseman Justin Turner’s $16 million option in favor of a $16 million buyout. San Francisco declined a $13 million option on third baseman Evan Longoria, triggering a $5 million buyout.
The New York Mets turned down an $8 million option on right-hander Mychal Givens in favor of a $1.5 million buyout, Baltimore said no to an $11 million option on righthander Jordan Lyles and will pay a $1 million buyout, and Boston said it and the player had declined a $12 million mutual option on outfielder Tommy Pham, a Durango product, who gets a $1.5 million buyout.