If Justin Verlander is truly eyeing a midseason return, you can bet Houston Astros fans are already dusting off their No. 35 jerseys and prepping the welcome wagon. Because if there’s one team that makes perennial sense for a veteran ace with October on his mind, it’s the Astros.
According to league insiders, teams still believe Verlander has gas left in the tank - just maybe not enough to floor it for a full 162-game grind. At 43, the calculus changes.
The prevailing thought around front offices? A lighter workload, a smarter ramp-up, and a targeted arrival once the playoff picture starts to take shape.
Think late April or early May, with the goal of 70-ish high-quality innings - and ideally, a few more when the lights get brightest in October.
And here’s where Houston fits in perfectly.
This wouldn’t be about chasing Cy Young Verlander. This would be about stability, leadership, and playoff-caliber experience dropped right into the heart of the season - when arms are wearing down and every fifth day starts to matter just a little more. It’s about raising the floor, not recapturing the peak.
The Astros have walked this path before. Back in 2006, they pulled off a similar midseason reunion with Roger Clemens, who brought a jolt of veteran presence and postseason pedigree to a rotation that needed exactly that.
The following year, the Yankees did the same. It’s rare, sure, but it’s not unprecedented - and it’s not out of reach.
What makes Verlander-to-Houston feel so natural isn’t just the history or the familiarity. It’s the intangible value he brings beyond the box score.
Executives talk openly about how his presence elevates an entire pitching staff - from routines and preparation to expectations and accountability. That kind of clubhouse gravity doesn’t show up in ERA or WHIP, but it matters.
Especially for a team with postseason aspirations and a rotation that could use a steadying hand.
Let’s not forget: Houston already has reasons to be proactive about pitching depth. Injuries, innings limits, and the sheer unpredictability of a long season make reinforcements not just a luxury but a necessity.
And when one of those reinforcements happens to be a future Hall of Famer who knows your system, your staff, and your October expectations? That’s hard to ignore.
So while nothing’s official, and Verlander’s camp may be playing the long game, the logic lines up. If he’s truly waiting for the right fit, the right time, and the right team - well, Houston checks every box. Even if no one wants to say it out loud just yet.