Justin VerlanderThe 2022 AL Cy Young’s acceptance speech at Saturday’s New York Baseball Writers’ Association Awards Dinner kicked off with a nice touch, looking to the future of the 9-time All-Star RHP Mets.
Verlander, who the Mets signed to a two-year deal for $86.7 million on Dec. 7, thanked his New York manager buck show walter in addition to the owner Steve Cohen His wife Alex as the next chapter awaits former Detroit Tiger (2005-17) and Houston Astro (2017-22).
“Thank you for the kind words, Buck,” Verlander said via MLB Network. In my opinion, I am really looking forward to the opportunity to play under another manager.Thank you.
“I’m so excited to start the next chapter of my career with the Mets. I want to thank Steven and Alex Cohen for bringing me to New York.”
Verlander, who turns 40 on February 20, earned the aforementioned Cy Young after being the starting rotation ace for the World Series champion Astros last season.
In 28 regular season starts in 2022, he went 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA and 10.5 K/9.
At a press conference on December 20, Verlander cited Cohen and Showalter as reasons for signing with the Mets.
“From the beginning, Steve and (GM) billy (Eppler) reached out very early on and expressed their interest. It gave me a positive vibe.
“To follow up on that, to talk to Billy and the rest of the staff, Buck, they’re all doing the same thing that’s going to do whatever it takes to make this a championship-capable organization again. We share a vision and a passion. And really, that’s what came. For me, I wanted to be a part of this vision moving forward. , had a great season. I think it’s just going in the right direction.