Justin Verlander: Is the veteran pitcher the highest paid New York Mets player?

Justin Verlander, 39, is one of the best pitchers in the history of the sport, and his impressive career has made him a fan favorite throughout the league. Verlander is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and has won two World Series championships with the Houston Astros.

He is currently the active leader in wins and strikeouts among pitchers, with 244 wins and 3,198 strikeouts over 17 MLB seasons, all of them in the American League.

In three full seasons with the Astros, Verlander finished first twice and second once in the AL Cy Young balloting. Last season, he led the league with 18 wins and a microscopic 1.75 ERA, the lowest by an AL pitcher in a full season since Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez in 2000.

Justin Verlander awarded the 2019 AL Cy Young award

Justin Verlander signed a two-year, $86.6 million contract with the New York Mets last December with a vesting option of $35 million for 2025. This deal ties him with Max Scherzer, his New York Mets teammate, who signed a three-year, $130 million contract in 2021, making both pitchers the highest-paid members of the team and the highest-paid baseball players in history (in annual salary).

The Mets lost their ace, Jacob deGrom, to the Texas Rangers in free agency last December, so they turned their attention to Verlander. They had offered deGrom a three-year contract for about $120 million before he informed them he was joining Texas.

Justin Verlander's signing is a major coup for the Mets

Justin Verlander's signing is a major coup for the Mets, as he is still one of the best pitchers in the game despite his age. He will likely be the team's ace in 2023 and 2024, and if he pitches at least 140 innings in 2024, his contract will vest for 2025.

This gives the Mets some much-needed stability in their rotation after losing deGrom. Verlander's presence will also help the team attract other free agents who are looking to play for a contender.

More on Verlander:

• Justin Verlander reflects on the birth of his daughter as personal motivation to keep going strong at the age of 40
• When Justin Verlander credited his wife Kate Upton for helping him cope with mental health issues following his shoulder surgery
• MLB insider unsure whether former rivals Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer can put their differences aside in Mets