Mets Hold Discussions With World Series Champion Pitcher, Possible Insurance If DeGrom Leaves

The New York Mets have voids to fill, and one player who could be filling that hole is Justine Verlander.

The two-time World Series Champion reportedly held talks with the Mets last week via Zoom, according to sources in a report by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

If everything falls into place, the nine-time All-Star pitcher not only fills in a void but may also reunite with former Detroit Tigers teammate Max Scherzer. Both played together for the Motor City team from 2010 to 2014.

The move would also be insurance for the Mets if Jacob deGrom leaves for free agency.

According to insiders, the camp of the 34-year-old 2014 NL Rookie of the Year mentioned that deGrom would be open to staying on with the team, it would depend if given a fair market offer, Mike Puma of the New York Post reported.

Puma added that deGrom is seeking a deal that would make him the highest-paid pitcher in the MLB. If so, this means he would have a better financial package over Scherzer, who agreed to a $130 million three-year deal with the Mets before the 2022 MLB season.

Verlander successfully returned to action from Tommy John surgery and won his third Cy Young of his career with the Houston Astros.

Verlander played his part in helping the Astros cop an 18-4 win-loss record during the 2022 MLB season that saw them winning the World Series. The 34-year-old had a 1.75 ERA, and 0.83 WHIP over 175 innings.

Aside from Verlander, the Mets also met with Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga. They have also been in touch with Jameson Taillon, according to Rosenthal.

Other names that the Mets are reportedly considering include Carlos Rodon to help boost their rotation.

For now, Scherzer is set to start alongside Carlos Carrasco for the 2023 MLB season. David Peterson and Tylor Megill are expected to also hold roles at the back of the rotation although this still hinges on the Mets' moves in the offseason.

Also, the Mets may not be the only team keeping an eye on Verlander. One team that could make sense would be the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team that former pro scout Bernie Pieskoff of Forbes suggests is a good fit.