Mets stand to benefit financially from Justin Verlander's current injury
Justin Verlander #35 of the New York Mets pitches against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on Sunday, July 30, 2023 in the Queens borough of New York City. Credit: Jim McIsaac
PITTSBURGH — In the other league, and in an entirely different part of the country, one of those familiar lingering injury situations stands to benefit the 2025 Mets.
Justin Verlander has missed nearly a month and won’t return until after the All-Star break because of what the Astros are calling neck discomfort.
Verlander is at severe risk of not clearing the 140-inning threshold needed to trigger his $35 million salary — half of which would be paid by the Mets — for next season.
If that pattern holds, it would give the Mets an extra $17.5 million that had been earmarked for Houston and Verlander. Even for a club owned by hedge-fund multibillionaire Steve Cohen, that is a meaningful amount of money when it comes to offseason planning and spending.
So far, Verlander has totaled 57 innings through 10 starts this season. That leaves the righthander needing to toss another 83 innings to guarantee the 2025 portion of his deal.
In an absolute best-case scenario for the Astros, if Verlander returned the first game after the break on July 19 and pitched once every five games, he would make another 13 starts. If he can average 6 2/3 innings per outing, he would reach the specified number.
Is that possible? Sure. He exceeded those totals in the second half last year.
Is that likely? Not so much, especially for a 41-year-old who has been on the injured list three times with back/side, shoulder and neck issues in the past season and a half.
Verlander’s conditional player option for 2025 was part of the two-year, $86.67 million contract he signed with the Mets in December 2022. The Mets agreeing to pick up half of the one-year, $35 million tack-on was part of the terms of the trade of Verlander to the Astros in July 2023.
As for the players the Mets received for Verlander?
Outfielder Drew Gilbert strained his hamstring in April while with Triple-A Syracuse; the Mets have been hoping he returns this month.
Outfielder/first baseman Ryan Clifford, 20, has advanced to Double-A. He has shown major power (.507 slugging percentage) and an ability to walk (.366 OBP), but is batting just .213. In 42 games, he has 10 home runs, 10 doubles, nine singles and 47 strikeouts.
Diaz Day
Edwin Diaz will return from his 10-game sticky-stuff suspension on Saturday. Through the first nine games of his ban, Mets' relievers posted a 6.89 ERA, the third-worst mark in the majors in that span.
Suffice to say manager Carlos Mendoza will be happy to have his closer again.
“I feel like guys stepped up,” Mendoza said. “There were days when guys got big outs. There were days when we didn’t get the job done and that’s part of it. I felt like the guys did a really good job. Starters went deep when needed. Offense stepped up and scored runs when we needed it. I’m just excited to have him back [Saturday].”
Diaz has not spoken publicly since MLB issued the suspension on June 24. A Mets official said he will do so Saturday.
Pitching plans
Although their bullpen will be fully stocked again, the Mets will not revisit their abandoned plan to use a sixth starter before the All-Star break, Mendoza said. They’ll stick with the five they have.
That means more bullpen action for Jose Butto, who was available again on Friday after throwing two innings on Tuesday. Balancing rest days with pitching days is trickier with Butto, a starting pitcher with minimal relief experience, than it is with most.
“Every individual is different,” Mendoza said. “Making sure the communication with him and him being honest with us is going to be the key.”
Extra bases
Harrison Bader was back in the lineup on Friday night after missing two games with a sore neck/upper back. He still wore kinesiology tape — meant to relieve pain and help muscles recover — in the area, but Mendoza described him as “full go.” “There’s a reason why he’s in the lineup,” he said. “I feel pretty comfortable with him playing.” . . . Righthander Matt Festa, designated for assignment on Wednesday, elected free agency . . . Outfielder Duke Ellis, also recently DFAed, was claimed off waivers by the Mariners.
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.