Justin Verlander Reflects on His Brief but Unforgettable Stint with the Mets
As the baseball world prepares to bid farewell to Justin Verlander, the 43-year-old future Hall of Famer is soaking in every moment of his final MLB All-Star Game. Set to retire with the Detroit Tigers at the close of the 2026 season, Verlander took a moment during the festivities to look back on his storied career—including his short-lived yet impactful time in Queens.
Verlander is attending the Midsummer Classic as a commissioner’s pick for the American League, a fitting tribute to a pitcher who has quite literally seen and done it all.
A Lasting Connection to New York
Despite building the bulk of his legacy with two World Series rings in Houston and iconic years in Detroit, Verlander’s brief chapter with the New York Mets left a significant mark on him personally.
Speaking to SNY, the veteran pitcher opened up about his feelings toward the Big Apple and the Mets organization:
“I really fell in love with the city. It was short, obviously. Didn’t go the way we wanted. There’s a lot of things that were sad about it. But I think the relationship with Steve Cohen and his wife Alex, how great they were to me and my family. Getting to play that short time in New York was incredible. I still have my apartment in the city.”
The 2023 Mets Experiment
Verlander originally joined the Mets on a blockbuster two-year, $86.7 million deal ahead of the 2023 season. The pairing was highly anticipated, but the reality of the season fell short of expectations.
When New York found itself tumbling out of the playoff race by the summer trade deadline, the front office pivoted. The team traded Verlander back to the Houston Astros, bringing an abrupt end to his time in a Mets uniform.
A First-Ballot Legacy
Following a season with the San Francisco Giants, Verlander returned to where it all began, signing a one-year farewell contract with Detroit for 2026.
While injuries have severely limited his final campaign—holding him to just a single pitching appearance this year—his legacy remains entirely untouched. Verlander is a generational talent and an absolute lock for the Hall of Fame once he becomes eligible, taking with him memories from every stop of his journey, including a New York minute he won’t soon forget.