Justin Verlander, who recently announced his retirement after the 2026 season, reflected on his short tenure with the New York Mets.
"I really fell in love with the city," Verlander told reporters. "It was short, obviously. Didn't go the way we wanted. There's a lot of things that were sad about it."
Verlander, 43, pitched only part of one season with the Mets in 2023, recording a 3.15 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 94 ⅓ innings. The team finished that season with a 75-87 record. He was traded to the Houston Astros at the deadline.
Despite the team's performance and the brevity of his stay, Verlander noted positive aspects of his time in New York. "The relationship with Steve Cohen and his wife, Alex, how great they were to me and my family," he said. "Getting to play that short time in New York was incredible. I still have my apartment in the city."
He also highlighted the opportunity to reunite with pitcher Max Scherzer. "I made some great relationships there. I think another thing that I appreciate was getting the chance to play with Max [Scherzer] again, kind of rekindle that relationship after some years away. Just a lot of growth."
Verlander is currently back with the Detroit Tigers for his final season and was named an All-Star as a "Legend Pick."
Throughout his career, Verlander has achieved significant accolades, including a 3.33 career ERA, 10 All-Star selections, three AL Cy Young Awards, and two World Series championships with the Astros. He has also pitched three no-hitters and led the American League in ERA twice.