Report: Justin Verlander traded to Astros

Reports are that the New York Mets have traded Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros. 

The Astros #1 Prospect, Drew Gilbert is apparently part of the return package along with OF/1B Ryan Clifford.  

BREAKING: The Mets are trading Justin Verlander to the Astros, per source.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) August 1, 2023

The Houston Astros have a deal in place to acquire ace Justin Verlander from the New York Mets, sources familiar with the agreement tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 1, 2023

MLB will have to approve any deal where more than $2 million changes hands, as will be the case with Verlander and Houston. That has not happened yet, so the deal will not be official for a little while .

— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) August 1, 2023

The Mets will receive Astros No. 1 prospect and 2022 first-rounder Drew Gilbert as part of the return for Justin Verlander.@gillygoobear is No. 68 on the Top 100 Prospects list: https://t.co/8AZg0OSiXz pic.twitter.com/aX85V0WJFR

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 1, 2023

Astros sending two OF prospects to the Mets in exchange for Justin Verlander

#1 prospect Drew Gilbert
#4 prospect Ryan Clifford pic.twitter.com/gbGghaMNdg

— Farm To Fame (@FarmToFame_) August 1, 2023

Ryan Clifford was the #Astros 11th-round pick in 2022 and got the second-highest bonus in their class.
Judging by this clip of his home run from last night, I'd say they made a ... sound ... investment. pic.twitter.com/r4wj3TcSlF

— Josh Norris 🐻 (@jnorris427) April 13, 2023

Drew Gilbert & Ryan Clifford would have ranked 1-2 when I updated our @Astros Top 30 next week. Good gets for @Mets.

— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) August 1, 2023

"I really like the Mets trade, all things considered, for what they got back in return for Justin Verlander"@Jim_Duquette says he's high on the return the Mets got from the Astros for Justin Verlander: https://t.co/OzNyrovjSF pic.twitter.com/Cj3k8gJOqB

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 1, 2023

The New York #Mets are sending the #Astros about $54 million in the Justin Verlander trade, one executive said, if Verlander's $35 million option in 2025 becomes vested.
Verlander is owed about $93 million, meaning the #Astros would pay Verlander about $29 million for 2 1/3 years

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 1, 2023

Hearing that Tylor Megill will likely take the rotation spot vacated by Justin Verlander.

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) August 1, 2023