Although the lockout still rages on, the Astros were able to finalize their recent agreement with free-agent starter Justin Verlander. You can blame the review of the language in the contract as the cause of the delay. This issue was also why MLB and MLBPA, even in the midst of a labor dispute, were fine with approving the paperwork as the Astros and Verlander were technically in agreement prior to the December 1 deadline. In turn, our collective heartburn about this situation has subsided. We have enough of that discomfort right now with Carlos Correa’s free agency.
With that all-ever important confirmation out of the way, Houston is actually in an enviable place when it comes to starting pitching depth.