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Astros Notes: Verlander, Whitley, McCormick

By Nick Deeds | February 25, 2024 at 1:43pm CDT

Astros ace Justin Verlander discussed his ongoing shoulder issues with reporters (including Chandler Rome of The Athletic) today, and his comments shed little light on whether the veteran righty will be able to take the mound on Opening Day next month.

“We still got some time, obviously it’s tight, but things are progressing,” Verlander told reporters, as relayed by Rome. “…We’re not even looking a week out or two weeks out, so it’s kind of hard to forecast anything past that.”

Verlander went on to make clear that he’s feeling no discomfort in his shoulder, adding that “Every day I touch the mound has been progression.” While the veteran ace has yet to face live hitting this spring, Rome adds that manager Joe Espada indicated Verlander could start to face live hitting “at some point” after his next bullpen session, adding that said bullpen would likely “determine” Verlander’s readiness for Opening Day.

Verlander, who celebrated his 41st birthday last week, followed up his AL Cy Young award winning campaign in 2022 with a solid 2023 split between the Mets and Astros. In 27 starts between the two clubs, the right-hander pitched to a strong 3.22 ERA in 162 1/3 innings of work. That being said, his 21.5% strikeout rate last year was the lowest he had posted since 2015, leaving him with a 3.85 FIP that puts him closer to “solid mid-rotation arm” than “surefire ace.” Even if Verlander isn’t the dominant pitcher he was in his late 30s now that he’s entered his 40s, however, the right-hander figures to be a key piece of the Astros rotation alongside Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier. Should Verlander miss time to start the season, that would likely leave Houston to lean more heavily on their back-of-the-rotation arms such as Jose Urquidy and Hunter Brown.

More from out of Houston…

  • Espada also provided an update regarding the status of right-hander Forrest Whitley, who Rome relays has been dealing with inflammation in his middle finger. Espada indicated that while that inflammation has now subsided, Whitley will be sat down for the next week on a no-throw program. Once a consensus top-10 prospect in the sport, the Astros’ first-round pick in the 2016 draft has not yet made his big league debut despite being on the 40-man roster since 2020 due to a lengthy injury history and a 50-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy. Whitley has struggled badly as a started at the Triple-A level, with an 8.04 ERA in 87 1/3 career innings at the level, but figures to work exclusively out of the bullpen going forward and entered camp with a chance to compete for a spot in the club’s bullpen this spring.
  • Outfielder Chas McCormick is expected to step into a larger role with Houston in 2024, as MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart notes that both Espada and GM Dana Brown have indicated that McCormick will be an everyday player this season. The 28-year-old slashed an impressive .273/.353/.489 (133 wRC+) last year but appeared in only 115 games while making 457 trips to the plate. The retirement of veteran left fielder Michael Brantley has opened up additional playing time in the club’s outfield mix, however, and it appears that McCormick could be a major beneficiary of that playing time. With Jake Meyers as the club’s likely starting center fielder, that figures to push McCormick to left for the most part, though McTaggart indicates that McCormick could see time in center on days where Yainer Diaz moves from behind the plate to DH, pushing superstar slugger Yordan Alvarez into left field.
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Houston Astros Notes Chas McCormick Forrest Whitley Justin Verlander

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Post a Comment

39 Comments

  1. The Voices

    2 years ago

    Would rather have a 21 year old Mike Trout.

    Reply
  2. Codeeg

    2 years ago

    Still have more than month before spring training, I’m not sure if Verlander will be ready, but I don’t think he’ll need a full spring to ramp up to game ready once he is.

    Reply
    • User 2161944466

      2 years ago

      I know I drink too much, but I think spring training already started?

      16
      Reply
      • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

        2 years ago

        Your buddy just left a word out, it appears. It’s okay to let innocent errors go by ya know.

        2
        Reply
    • Nhworley

      2 years ago

      honestly, it would probably be good in the long run if he sat out the first couple of weeks. I’d rather have less innings on him when the postseason comes around

      Reply
  3. HEHEHATE

    2 years ago

    Man I feel like Whitley is 30 years old already. He’s almost gotten to Alex Reyes and Brett Honeywell status.

    4
    Reply
    • Big whiffa

      2 years ago

      “Consensus top 10 prospect” ROTFLMAO !!!

      Consensus of a bunch of over hyped prospect rankers that don’t have a clue what they are doing based on their own track records

      Reply
      • thickiedon

        2 years ago

        I watched Whitley pitch in CC a few years ago. He and Korey Lee were terrible: wild pitches, passed balls, couldn’t locate his pitches.

        1
        Reply
        • texgal01

          2 years ago

          It is sad to see where his baseball career has taken Whitley. Seemed promising. I forgot where Korey went to or was traded to. But will never know what would have been for him.

          1
          Reply
        • thickiedon

          2 years ago

          Lee is supposed to be WSox #1 going into the season

          Reply
      • Nhworley

        2 years ago

        It’s almost impossible to project accurately on everyone. You know who else were consensus top 10 prospects? Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, and Kyle Tucker. They certainly have their fair share of misses, but they get lots right. Also Whitley completely deserved being the top pitching prospect in baseball at the time. He killed it in AA at 19 in his first look, and his stuff was filthy.

        Reply
        • thickiedon

          2 years ago

          If only he made smart decisions

          Reply
  4. Gwynning

    2 years ago

    Verlander = HOFer

    8
    Reply
  5. ❤️ MuteButton

    2 years ago

    McCormick full time = .275, 30HR, 25 SB (ish). But Dusty didn’t want that, smh

    5
    Reply
    • Ankle Monitor

      2 years ago

      Dusty is a old man not to concerned with a soon to be 29 yr old part time outfielder the astos are hoping can put up full time numbers.

      Reply
      • GarryHarris

        2 years ago

        Not sure what this says….

        1
        Reply
    • HEHEHATE

      2 years ago

      Dusty don’t play kids that’s the problem

      1
      Reply
      • caltigerfreak

        2 years ago

        Dusty don’t run the Astros anymore, either. Let me introduce you to Joe Espada.

        4
        Reply
        • HEHEHATE

          2 years ago

          Oh I know Espada. I was just commenting on Dusty’s Mo. to me you play the best talent you can field regardless of age but that’s new age baseball dynamics.

          4
          Reply
        • Nhworley

          2 years ago

          Except he played pena full time as a rookie. And the guys mccormick was losing playing time too were all younger than him.

          Reply
  6. texgal01

    2 years ago

    Not sure what McCormick could have had last season or what will do this season. Not banking on these stats. Would be nice. Would have to see as well if Bregman wakes up this season and Abreu who both say will be better.

    1
    Reply
    • thickiedon

      2 years ago

      Unfortunately, Dusty moved him to bench once Brantley returned. Brantley should’ve been the primary lefty off the bench, not the starter. If I remember correctly, Dubon was leading the majors in hits until Altuve returned. Then Dubon was buried deep on the bench. Down the stretch, Dusty barely played Diaz in favor of Maldonado. Abreu was played FAR too much also. Dusty cooled the bats of Chas, Dubon, and Diaz. Such a travesty

      3
      Reply
      • Astros_fan_in_Aus

        2 years ago

        Thank goodness Baker has gone, and Maldonado too. It is like a dark veil has been lifted and players like Diaz and McCormick are now in the sunlight.

        1
        Reply
        • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

          2 years ago

          Be careful what you wish for.

          Reply
    • Nhworley

      2 years ago

      I think .250-.260 with 20-25 HR and an OPS of 110-120 is a fair projection, and I would 100% take that from the bottom third of the order.

      Reply
  7. AirY0rdan

    2 years ago

    Forrest Whitley has been on the “doorstep” to the MLB for 7 years

    3
    Reply
  8. DarkSide830

    2 years ago

    Forrest Whitley is just wasting a roster spot at this point.

    3
    Reply
  9. Gwynning

    2 years ago

    konasurfah@gmail.com

    Hit me up, no guarantee but we *might* have something for ya!

    1
    Reply
  10. deepseamonster32

    2 years ago

    That’s not ominous at all, the 41 year old with shoulder issues at the beginning of the season.

    2
    Reply
  11. 808sAndMetsHeartbreaks

    2 years ago

    This is probably a very dumb question —

    Regarding Verlander’s vesting option. Can things like that be waived by a team? Like if Verlander doesn’t hit the 140 innings for the third year to tack on, but the Astros still want him, can they waive that and claim his third year? I remember back when CC Sabathia got ejected with only 1 inning remaining for his incentive and the Yankees gave it to him anyway.

    I know incentives and options are completely different things but was just curious if it still applies that the team can just give it out.

    Do I think the Astros would do it? Never, absolutely not. But as a Met fan, am I scared the Astros will do it and keep us on the hook for $17.5m for another year? Yes.

    Reply
    • LordD99

      2 years ago

      One thing not to be scared about: Steve Cohen paying $17.5 million.

      More seriously, I’ll say no. The Astros can’t change the terms and conditions of Verlander’s contract and force the Mets to pay for something they didn’t agree to. The Mets pay only if he reaches the 140 innings mark.

      It’s a player option, though, right? If so, he then has the right to reject it. Seems unlikely, but he may prefer free agency to beat the $35 million. He doesn’t even need to put up a Cy Young season to best $35 million in total compensation. So as a Mets fan, don’t root for him to have a bad season and not reach 150 innings, root for him to have a great season and then he rejects the player option.

      Beyond that, don’t be scared of Cohen owing money. It won’t impact his plans for the Mets.

      Reply
  12. Ignorant Son-of-a-b

    2 years ago

    Anybody know what drug Whitley got popped for ???

    Reply
    • Redwood13

      2 years ago

      Whitley was in double A Corpus Christi as a 18 year old. Everyone was saying, he was the next Tom Seaver, then injures and smoking weed and now it’s 6 years later.

      Reply
      • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

        2 years ago

        That’s weak. To have that hanging around your neck just for weed. Half the league would piss hot for weed right now.

        Reply
      • takeitback

        2 years ago

        It wasn’t for weed. He was driving home from out of state and took an Adderall to help himself stay awake. It wasn’t a big deal, but since he didn’t have a prescription for it, it’s a banned substance.

        1
        Reply
      • ❤️ MuteButton

        2 years ago

        He was taking Adderall, not smoking weed

        Reply
  13. Redwood13

    2 years ago

    Doing the smoke, Mary Jane as we use to call it

    1
    Reply
    • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

      2 years ago

      Bellinger is always Hella stoned, I guess they don’t enforce that one anymore lol.

      1
      Reply
  14. Rightout

    2 years ago

    Verlander will not be ready to pitch for awhile…Astros just hoping he can..Look for May at the earliest

    1
    Reply

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