New York Mets owner Justin Verlander hopes to recruit
The billionaire owner came forward to recruit Justin Verlander (39). Verlander’s name has appeared on the SNS friend list of New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, who is stingy with following, making headlines.
The U.S. media “Sports Illustrated (SI)” said on the 5th (Korea Standard Time), “The owner of Steve Cohen followed the account of the FA pitcher Verlander, who won the American League Cy Young Award three times.” Verlander, who does not have a team yet, will have contact with several clubs at this week’s winter meeting to decide his next destination, he reported.
Verlander, who underwent elbow ligament surgery in 2020, announced the return of the ace with 18 wins, 4 losses, and a 1.75 ERA in 28 games this year, his return season. He topped the American League with multiple wins, ERA, WHIP (0.83), hit percentage (.183), and POPS (.497) and won the Cy Young Award with 210 points, sweeping all 30 of the top votes in the National Baseball Writers Association (BBWAA) vote. After leading the Houston Astros to the championship, he gave up his $25 million salary next year through an opt-out and chose FA.
The Mets failed to renew their contract with Jacob deGrom on the 3rd and are looking for a new ace. FA DeGrom chose to transfer by signing a five-year, $185 million contract with the Texas Rangers, not his original team Mets remaining. Naturally, the Mets’ target headed to another ace Verlander who remained in the market.
Cohen’s owner is stingy with his SNS followers. Unlike more than 270,000 followers, there are only 423 followers, of which few players from other clubs besides the Mets. That’s why he followed Verlander, who doesn’t have a team.
SI said, “Can this be an indicator that Verlander will sign with the Mets soon?” “The Mets need a substitute for deGrom, and given Cohen’s move, it is expected to play a big game to hunt for aces in the stove league.”
According to sources, Verlander wants a contract similar to Max Scherzer, who chose to go to the Mets for 130 million dollars in three years last year. He plans to set up a full-fledged negotiating table at the Major League Winter Meeting in San Diego this week.