There’s always going to be a pull when Justin Verlander’s name and the Houston Astros end up in the same sentence. This is the guy who helped define an era at Daikin Park, who took the ball in October and made deep runs feel routine. So when his name pops back up as a free agent option for 2026, of course the imagination goes straight to one more run in orange and navy. The problem is the Astros can’t treat this like a farewell tour. If they’re going to crack that door open again, it has to be because he still helps them win games right now — not just because the reunion feels good.
Proposed Astros-Justin Verlander reunion only makes sense under strict conditions
