Astros pitcher Justin Verlander wants to pitch until he's 45 years old
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Quarterback Tom Brady continues to defy logic, winning his sixth Super Bowl title with the New England Patriots earlier this month at the ripe old age of 41.
Following that same mold, Houston Astros’ ace Justin Verlander wants to extend his illustrious Major League Baseball career beyond conventional wisdom.
“I’m taking the proper steps to prepare myself to pitch ... hopefully until 45,” he said Thursday at the Astros’ spring training facility.
“Looking at the long term, you can start making adjustments now to prepare. The steps I’ve gone through the last four, five years to transform my body and get back to being healthy, (those) are going to allow me to, knock on wood, stay healthy and thrive late in my 30s, early 40s.”
Verlander, who turns 36 on Wednesday, isn’t going to let his age to stop him from getting another potential mega-contract. His seven-year, $180 million deal he signed with the Detroit Tigers in 2013 expires after this season.
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The Astros can attempt to negotiate an extension with Verlander in the coming months, though it’s not clear if talks have started yet.
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“We think about potential extensions for all our players,” Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said Thursday. “We will have those conversations internally, at least, and if the players are willing to engage, we might go beyond that.”
Houston, which traded for Verlander at the deadline in August 2017 — in part because the Tigers agreed to pay some of his remaining contract — has shown it will spend money to keep its stars, which means Verlander's next contract may keep him in Houston for the foreseeable future, if not the rest of his career.
The Astros, who recovered from their own rebuild not long ago, are now the gold standard of putting together a successful organization. The Verlander trade helped Houston win the World Series two years ago.
“Our payroll has been going up; it’s going to continue to go up,” Luhnow said. “There’s room in there to have several well-compensated players.”
Even if Houston is willing to open its checkbook to keep Verlander, he could wait and test the free-agent waters next offseason.
“It’s a contract year?” Verlander joked Thursday. “I don’t think about it, man, just go play the game. There’s enough pressure I put on myself. Contract year, non-contract year, doesn’t matter. I have other reasons to go out there and compete.
“Personally, I can not think about anything in those terms. I’m definitely not scared of free agency, by any means.”
Putting potential negotiations aside, Luhnow said he wouldn’t be surprised if Verlander does pitch into his mid-40s.
“He’s not slowing down at all,” Luhnow said. “I have no hesitation in thinking he’s going to be a dominant pitcher for many years to come.”
Similar to Brady, Verlander has enjoyed personal and team success throughout his career. The Astros, who lost to Boston in the 2018 American League Championship Series, are expected to contend for another World Series title this summer.
“I’ve been very fortunate; when I stepped in the locker room (each season), I had this feeling we could win a World Series,” Verlander said. “I’m realizing how lucky I am, especially in the landscape today.”
Only time will tell how much longer he’ll play in the big leagues, but few in the Astros’ organization doubt Verlander’s ability to reach his goal of 45.
“Nothing’s going to surprise me,” Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. “He’s as prepared and energized as there is in the league. I don’t think age is a factor for certain players — and he’s certainly one of them.”
“He looks like he’s 28," said Astros second baseman Jose Altuve. "He’s in great shape, and he’s really, really smart. For me, he will be the key for us to win another championship.”
