MLB Power Rankings: 5 major changes thanks to free agency and trades
By Tim Boyle
2) MLB Power Rankings: How Justin Verlander signing impact Mets and Astros
The New York Mets weren’t going to allow themselves to lose Jacob deGrom to the Texas Rangers and get caught flat-footed. Only days later, they replaced their longtime ace with Justin Verlander. The addition might seem a bit lateral in the eyes of many baseball fans. Whether you like deGrom or Verlander more, the impact of having one on your roster is huge.
Another way to think about the importance of the Mets landing Verlander is to look at them without him. No deGrom and no Verlander gives them a solid starting rotation but not one we should consider elite. Verlander helps press the Mets right up against the back of the Atlanta Braves. Other additions they’ve made could push them ahead.
With the Houston Astros losing Justin Verlander, their chances at a repeat do feel a little tougher. This is the reigning American League Cy Young winner they’ve lost. It doesn’t seem like they will replace him.
The loss of Verlander might not be felt too badly in Houston considering how many other awesome starting pitchers they have. Amazingly, the loss of Verlander doesn’t move them out of the number one spot. The only team capable of possibly swiping it away from them at the moment would be the Los Angeles Dodgers. They’ve be relatively quiet this offseason. Pushing them ahead of the Astros wouldn’t be fair.