After the Mets traded Max Scherzer to the Rangers, fellow ace Justin Verlander told reporters he might be open to waiving his own no-trade clause.
The MLB trade deadline has the Mets in selling mode. They’ve already shipped off Max Scherzer and there’s a distinct feeling Justin Verlander could follow.
All along, the prospect of a Verlander trade has appeared unlikely because of his no-trade clause and preference for staying in New York. However, the Scherzer trade has apparently opened the door a bit wider.
On Sunday, Verlander didn’t come out directly and say he would waive his no-trade clause, but he was pretty clear that he’s open to the idea.
“I think it largely depends on how the organization views next year…” Verlander said, per Steve Gelbs of SNY. “…I’m committed to trying to win a championship here but if the organization decides that that’s not exactly the direction that they think is best fit to go for next year and go for it again, then yeah I would be more open to it.”
— Steve Gelbs (@SteveGelbs) July 30, 2023
Max Scherzer trade has Justin Verlander more open to waiving no-trade clause
Verlander basically put the ball back in the Mets court. If they can see themselves competing for a championship in 2024, then it sounds like he wants to be there.
Exploring a trade involving the pitcher would probably tell him all he needs to know about the team’s short-term ambition. So why not accept a trade to somewhere he can actually compete?
The Mets recouped a prosect — INF Luisangel Acuña, the brother of Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. — for Scherzer. They could undoubtedly get an even better prospect or two for Verlander, who continues to defy aging at 40 years old with a season-long ERA of 3.24 and an ERA of 1.69 over his last four starts.