Report: Mets, Verlander agree to 2-year, $86.6M deal

The New York Mets and veteran right-hander Justin Verlander are in agreement on a two-year, $86.6-million contract, a source told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

The deal contains an option for a third year, which will become a player option at $35 million for the 2025 campaign if Verlander throws 140 innings in 2024, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

Verlander, 39, won the 2022 American League Cy Young Award with the Houston Astros after missing nearly two full seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery.

The addition of Verlander to the Mets' rotation comes just a few days after former New York ace and two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom inked a massive five-year, $185-million deal to join the Texas Rangers.

Verlander's $43.33-million average annual salary ties new teammate Max Scherzer for the highest in MLB history. The two stars are reuniting after spending five seasons together with the Detroit Tigers from 2010-14.

Despite adding Verlander, the Mets are still expected to seek an additional starting pitcher, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo.

The New York Yankees were connected to Verlander over the past few days but were unwilling to add a third year at the salary he was seeking, NJ.com's Brendan Kuty reports.

The Los Angeles Dodgers also met with Verlander recently, while the Astros hoped to retain the hurler.

Verlander authored a masterful season for the Astros in 2022. He posted an 18-4 record with a career-best 1.75 ERA and 185 strikeouts across 175 innings while helping Houston win the World Series.