Justin Verlander gave up $25 million in annual salary next year and declared FA
Justin Verlander (39), who led the Houston Astros in the Major League Baseball (MLB) to the top of the World Series, will give up his $25 million salary and come to the free agent (FA) market.
ESPN reported on the 11th (Korea Standard Time) that “Verlander gave up his option to play in Houston with an annual salary of $25 million (about 33 billion won) next season and declared FA.”
Verlander, who started the 2020 season and started rehabilitation due to elbow pain, eventually underwent elbow ligament surgery (Tommy John Surrey) in September 2020 and lost the entire 2021 season.
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Although he did not take the mound for two years, Houston, his original team, trusted Verlander’s ability and signed a contract for 1+1 years and a total of $50 million in November last year.
Verlander started 28 games this season and pitched 175 innings, recording 18 wins, 4 losses, and a 1.75 ERA. He won the American League title with multiple wins and ERA.
Verlander, who was particularly weak on the World Series stage, scored four hits (one home run), six strikeouts, four walks, and one run in five innings in Game 5 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies this year, winning his first win in his ninth try.
Verlander, who declared a perfect revival, is considered a strong candidate for this year’s American League Cy Young Award. He won the Cy Young Award in 2011 when he was with the Detroit Tigers and in 2019 when he played for Houston.
Next year, it will be irrelevant, but Verlander came to the FA market dreaming of a super-large contract. ESPN said, “Verlander has emerged as one of the biggest starting pitchers in the FA market.”
