Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander has opted out of the final year of his contract this morning, per reports, and is now officially a free agent.
This move has been seen as a given for some time. Verlander, coming off Tommy John surgery, and having made just one appearance since 2019, signed a deal for 2022 with the Astros that paid him $25 million in 2022, with a $25 million player option for 2023.
Verlander led the majors in ERA and was fourth in the American League among pitchers in bWAR (one spot above Martin Perez (!