Could Justin Verlander Be the Answer to Houston’s Rotation Questions?
With spring training just weeks away, the Houston Astros are staring down some real uncertainty in their starting rotation. The once-deep pipeline of arms isn’t quite as intimidating as it used to be, and while there’s talent on hand, the margin for error is thinner than we’ve seen in recent years. Add in the fact that Framber Valdez remains unsigned heading into February, and suddenly, the Astros’ pitching picture feels more like a puzzle still missing a few key pieces.
Houston has made some moves to patch things together. The surprise signing of Japanese rookie Tatsuya Imai raised eyebrows in a good way-he’s a high-upside arm, but also an unknown commodity at the big-league level.
Then came a three-team deal that brought in Mike Burrows from Pittsburgh, another pitcher with potential but limited experience. Right now, Hunter Brown is the projected front-line starter, and while his stuff is electric, banking on him to anchor the rotation is a bet on upside more than proven durability.
That kind of optimism works fine in November. But come February? Teams want certainty.
That’s where Justin Verlander’s name re-emerges-again. On February 3, he was linked to Houston as a potential reunion candidate, and this time, it’s less about nostalgia and more about need. A third stint with the Astros isn’t just a feel-good story-it actually makes baseball sense.
Verlander, now 43, still has something in the tank. After a rocky start to 2025, he turned things around in the second half with the San Francisco Giants, putting up a 2.99 ERA after the All-Star break.
That kind of late-season form is exactly what teams look for in a veteran presence-especially one chasing a milestone. Verlander sits at 266 career wins, just 34 shy of the elusive 300 mark, and there’s no better place for him to chip away at that than in Houston, where he’s comfortable and the team remains competitive.
From the Astros’ perspective, adding Verlander would bring instant stability. Right now, the rotation behind Brown is filled with question marks-guys who are either unproven, coming off injuries, or still developing.
Verlander doesn’t just bring experience; he brings leadership, postseason pedigree, and a proven ability to mentor younger arms. That’s hard to find on the open market in February.
He also fits into projections that are already floating around. Some analysts have suggested Houston could move to a six-man rotation to manage workloads and keep arms fresh. In that setup, Verlander’s presence could be a perfect stabilizer-someone who doesn’t need to carry the load every fifth day but can still deliver quality innings and help guide a young staff through the grind of a 162-game season.
Of course, Houston isn’t the only team keeping tabs on Verlander. The Giants, who just added Harrison Bader and Luis Arráez, are reportedly still in the mix for one more move-and Verlander is at the top of that list.
Despite earlier confidence in their rotation, San Francisco knows that if the price is right, bringing Verlander back on a short-term deal makes a lot of sense. He gave them a solid 2025 campaign, finishing with a 3.85 ERA and 137 strikeouts over 152 innings.
That’s more than serviceable, especially for a team trying to stay in the playoff mix.
But for Houston, the fit feels a little more urgent. This isn’t just about depth-it’s about plugging a real hole in a rotation that’s currently relying more on projections than proven arms. And when you’re a team with championship aspirations, that’s a risk you don’t want to take into Opening Day.
So here we are again, talking about Justin Verlander and the Astros. But this time, it’s not just a reunion story-it’s a potential solution. And with spring training just around the corner, both sides might be wise to pick up the phone.