Astros In “Conversations” With Justin Verlander

If he gets 30 wins in the next two seasons I’d imagine he’ll get the rest of the wins after the ’26 season concludes. Has to give it two seasons and see where he stands prior to ’27. As such and considering the less than stellar ’23/’24 campaigns, he’s potentially a bargain because I’d be looking at 2 yrs / 20M with some kickers for IPs / Ws / K’s – could be a real sweet deal, you know the guy is motivated to win games.

Jaime Moyer won close to 70 games after age 42, Charlie Hough won around 40 games after age 42, Cy Young, Nolan Ryan, it can be done. Moyer pitched to 47 years old and was still tallying wins, if he has the meddle and the arm holds up, he can get the 39 wins.

I wouldn’t put JV down for starting every four days at 42.

Starting every fourth day was an idea Bauer put out there a while back in one of his interviews, and I liked the idea because I believe there are pitchers who are capable of handling the workload effectively, but as a team you’d be risking the money you layout on the contract because injury risk would be significantly greater, It’s unlikely but it’s interesting and could be a big advantage to a ball club willing to take a risk on a player who is up to the challenge. Have to be a creative contract to manage the injury risk, heavily based on performance kickers.

Teams used to work in four man rotations, I don’t recall what era or when the five man rotations became a standard thing across the league, Ill have to research that one.

Winning 15 games a season for 20 seasons is still possible in the five man rotation, have to play for a winning team, avoid missing time due to injury, and maintain your ability to get hitters out for two decades. It’s unlikely to see another player approach the record but not impossible. Likely have to pitch from age 21 to age 45 or 46, like JV is going to have to do if he goes to get 300. It’s an amazing feat, one worth pushing for, so hopefully as a fan we see JV back with the Astros.

Looking at the numbers of some of the greats from my lifetime. I’m 45 this year, so got to watch some of the best, Clemens, Johnson, Glavine, Maddux are the four pitchers who got to 300, surprised to see Bert Blyleven up there with a sneaky ~280. Smoltz could of got there had he not spent 4 seasons in the bullpen. Kershaw statistically has maybe pitched as good or better than all of them, he is 36, could potentially get to 300 if he can stay healthy and pitches another seven or eight seasons, which is highly unlikely, but possible. Maddux crushed on average 18 wins a season 18 seasons in a row, bulldogged them. Great stuff.

Blyleven had nine shutouts in ’73, the CG is a complete goner and its unfortunate. As a pitcher you used to go out with the mindset of throwing nine, getting the win, getting the SHO and those are great games to be a part of as a player and a fan. Locking down a CG to me is awesome, a SHO right up there with a No Hitter, but moneyball being what it is forces teams to take precautions with players. It don’t really make sense, if Blyleven can throw nine SHO’s in ’73, well his arm held up, but I guess it takes more to get today’s hitters out, more Velo, more sweep on the breaking ball, more torque on the old elbow. Don’t know for sure how much of it is dogma and how much of it is truly related to a pitchers arm being under more duress but I tell you this, if I’m managing a game, and my starter has seven shut out innings in, he’s pitching until a run crosses the plate, I dont care if he has to throw 140 pitches or if we lose the game, because it’s the Big SHO! Let’s get it!

Happy Thanksgiving!