Justin Verlander is a Free Agent Following World Series Win
Justin Verlander has turned down a $25 million option with the Houston Astros to become a free agent. The move came on Thursday (Nov. 10), just days after wining a World Series title with the team.
“Really and truly it’s been a hell of a ride no matter what happens, whether I stay or don’t,” he said upon the announcement. “I’ve really enjoyed my time with this group of guys and the city and getting to know the city.”
Verlander became a free agent along with three other players. He played for Detroit from 2005 and was traded to the Astros in August 2017. Time will tell where he ends up. Looking at some other changes, the New York Mets turned down an $8 million option on right-hander Mychal Givens and opted for a $1.5 million buyout. Baltimore turned down an $11 million option on right-hander Jordan Lyles and opted for a $1 million buyout. Boston said both the team and player turned down a $12 million mutual option on outfielder Tommy Pham and opted for a $1.5 million buyout.
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros and wife Kate Upton celebrate after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Kate Upton celebrates after the Houston Astros defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros and wife Kate Upton celebrate after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros celebrates after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Kate Upton celebrates after the Houston Astros defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros and wife Kate Upton celebrate after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros and wife Kate Upton celebrate after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros and wife Kate Upton celebrate after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros embraces his wife Kate Upton after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros embraces his wife Kate Upton after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros embraces his wife Kate Upton after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros celebrates after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros celebrates in the clubhouse after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros celebrates in the clubhouse after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Jose Urquidy #65 of the Houston Astros celebrates with friends and family after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros celebrates after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Jose Urquidy #65 of the Houston Astros celebrates with friends and family after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Kyle Tucker #30 of the Houston Astros celebrates in the clubhouse after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros celebrates in the clubhouse after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: The Houston Astros celebrate after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Michael Brantley #23 of the Houston Astros celebrates in the clubhouse while holding the commissioner's trophy after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros holds up the commissioner's trophy after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Martin Maldonado #15 of the Houston Astros celebrates after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: The Houston Astros celebrate after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: The Houston Astros celebrate after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Martin Maldonado #15 of the Houston Astros celebrates in the clubhouse after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Hector Neris #50 of the Houston Astros celebrates in the clubhouse after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Hector Neris #50 of the Houston Astros celebrates in the clubhouse after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: The Houston Astros celebrate after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 to win the 2022 World Series in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros celebrates with the Commissioner's Trophy after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros celebrates on the field after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
World Series – Philadelphia Phillies v Houston Astros – Game Six
ShareHOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 05: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros celebrates on the field after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in in Game Six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)