Report: Giants monitoring Justin Verlander as trade deadline nears

Jul 24, 2023, 9:36 AM | Updated: 9:41 am

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 01: Justin Verlander #35 of the New York Mets looks on after striking out...

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

The MLB trade deadline is near, meaning that we are in store for some spicy rumors over the next week.

According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the San Francisco Giants are among the teams evaluating New York Mets starter Justin Verlander ahead of Tuesday, August 1st’s trade deadline.

Verlander, 40, would have to waive his no-trade clause if New York were to trade the nine-time All-Star.

Sources: The Giants are among the teams evaluating Justin Verlander as a trade deadline candidate, should he become willing to waive his no-trade clause. @MLBNetwork @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 22, 2023

Following two offseasons of spending that saw the Mets spend over one billion dollars, New York has sputtered to a 46-53 start, sitting 18.5 games behind the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves and 7.5 games behind the third and final Wild Card spot.

Are the San Francisco Giants interested in Justin Verlander?

As we move one week from the MLB trade deadline (3 PM PST on August 1st), San Francisco is reportedly keeping its eyes on the three-time Cy Young Award winner.

The Giants have struggled over the past week, losing five-straight games that included a three-game sweep to the lowly Washington Nationals. San Francisco needs another arm atop its rotation to join Logan Webb and Alex Cobb, making Verlander a dream acquisition for the playoff-hopeful Giants.

Over 14 appearances this season, Verlander holds a 4-5 record with a 3.47 ERA and 70 strikeouts over 83 innings.

Verlander is currently in the first year of a two-year, $86 million deal. If the right-hander throws 140 innings or more in 2024, a $35 million vesting option will go into effect for 2025.

If New York falls further out of the Wild Card picture over the next five days, expect the rumors surrounding Verlander and other notable Mets to continue swirling before August 1st’s deadline.

While it’s currently unknown if the Giants will make any swing-for-the-fence type of moves next week, there is little doubt that San Francisco will be turning over every stone before the deadline buzzer sounds.