Starter Justin Verlander has posted the best numbers of his career since coming over to the Astros at the waiver trade deadline in 2017.

Astros, Justin Verlander in agreement on 2-year extension, report says


The Astros are close to locking up their ace.

Houston and Justin Verlander have agreed to a two-year, $66 million extension, ESPN reported Saturday.

Owner Jim Crane alluded to the possibility of an extension on Friday.

“I don’t think anything is final, but if it’s going to get done it’s going to get done before we get out of here," Crane said, via MLB.com.

Verlander, 36, has a ton of innings under his belt in his career, but has seen a massive uptick in numbers since coming over to the Astros in a trade at the waiver deadline in August 2017.

In 2018 the righty posted career highs in K/9 (12.2), strikeouts (290), WHIP (0.90), FIP (2.78) and batting average against (.200).

So while he may be an older pitcher, he has shown no perceivable drop off in recent years and he pitches exactly how the Astros like with a fastball up in the zone and a curveball directly off of it.

Verlander said said he wants to pitch into his mid-40s and suggested he didn't need a five-year deal, so the two-year agreement appears right in line with his statement.