In a candid revelation last August, an anonymous member of the New York Mets described their former teammate, now Houston Astros’ starting pitcher, as a “diva” during a discussion with Mike Puma of the New York Post.
In a recent interview published by Jon Heyman of the same publication, Verlander disclosed that he had conversed with former teammates to gather their insights on the matter. To his surprise, everyone refuted the notion. “Everyone I spoke to said, ‘JV that’s not the case,'” Verlander shared with Heyman.
According to Puma’s account, the anonymous Met recalled Verlander frequently airing grievances about the Mets’ analytics department, which he deemed inferior compared to the one in Houston. Additionally, it was mentioned that Verlander seemed disconnected from his teammates and didn’t contribute to the team’s camaraderie.
Verlander himself acknowledged to Heyman that he might not have always been the most accommodating teammate during his tenure with the Detroit Tigers from 2005 to 2017. “I was like a horse with blinders on running a race. I’m in it.
This is what it takes to be as great as I can be. Don’t get in my way,” Verlander admitted. “That didn’t provide a lot of bulls–t time. If you weren’t on that wavelength, we didn’t connect.”
Despite any past teammate dynamics, Verlander’s exceptional career achievements stand undeniable. A nine-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young awardee, and the 2011 American League MVP, Verlander’s 257 wins also position him as a potential member of the exclusive 300-win club, a feat not accomplished since Randy Johnson in 2009.
Amidst great anticipation, Verlander signed a two-year, $86.6 million deal with the Mets in 2023. However, the team, burdened with World Series aspirations, faltered significantly, prompting a mid-season dismantling of the roster, ending with a mere 75 wins. Verlander found himself traded back to the Houston Astros on Aug. 1.
— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) August 14, 2023
Subsequently, a report by the New York Post emerged two weeks later, leading Verlander to respond shortly thereafter with a post on X.
Regardless of the intricacies of past interactions or the sentiments of former teammates, the paths of New York and Verlander have diverged.
Verlander now focuses on leading the Astros, aiming for their third World Series victory since 2017, while the Mets strive to recover from a challenging 2023 season, pinning their hopes on stars like Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor.
