He’s Baaack and Ready to Lead the Stros to a Third World Championship. Who Else but Justin Verlander

According to multiple sources, the Houston Astros and New York Mets have concluded a trade that brings Justin Verlander back to Houston in return for the Astros’ #1 prospect and 2022 first-round draft pick, Drew Gilbert, plus a 19-year-old sleeper with early success at A+ Asheville, Ryan Clifford.

Verlander signed a record-breaking $86.666 million two-year deal this year with the Mets with a conditional third-year option. How much, if any of that salary will be paid by the Mets is unknown at this time.