Astros get surprisingly positive update on Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander has an aggressive timetable for his return from Tommy John surgery.

Verlander’s initial recovery time was expected to be 12-4 months, as he underwent Tommy John surgery on Sept. 30 of this year. Such a timetable would force him to miss all of the 2021 season, as returning that late in the year would be a moot point. Normally, rushing pitchers back from such a severe injury isn’t wise, but the Astros and James Click are keeping an open mind with Verlander.

JV knows he doesn’t have a ton of time left on the mound. Undergoing Tommy John at an advanced age is tough to recover from. At 37, who knows how long Verlander will be able to pitch at a Cy Young-caliber level in Houston?

“We’re not taking anything off the table when it comes to a guy like that,” Click told MLB Network this week.

What would a late-season return of Verlander mean for the Astros?

Houston’s rotation is manned primarily by Zack Greinke, Framber Valdez and Lance McCullers without Verlander in the fold. While the Astros intend to add a mid-tier free agent pitcher to their ranks, for now they look incredibly lite without the former MVP leading them.

The Astros championship window may be closing on their fingers, especially should they lose George Springer and Michael Brantley in the outfield. Owner Jim Crane is struggling like the rest of MLB’s owners to fully commit millions to improving the roster while also taking on financial losses.

So, the return of Verlander may be the Astros best shot. The Athletics remain significant competition in Houston’s division, as they found out last year when Oakland won the AL West. However, the likes of the Mariners, Rangers and Angels may still be a few years away.

Should Houston be able to snag a Wild Card spot, and get Verlander back at the tail end of the season, they could upset some of the league’s best just as they did in 2020’s expanded playoffs.

Of course, they’d rather have a few rotation upgrades in hand first.