Astros' Justin Verlander responds to report about Mets tenure

Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander offered a response to a recent report about all that went wrong for the 2023 New York Mets before the National League East team shipped Verlander to Houston ahead of this summer's MLB trade deadline. 

"I want to say that I have nothing but respect for the Mets organization and I enjoyed connecting with all of my teammates this season... new and old!! It was truly a wonderful group of people," Verlander wrote in a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, per Jimmy Hascup of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "That being said, we all know the success of a team is made up of more than just the players on the field, everyone’s input is valuable. I’m sorry to hear that a staff member took offense to constructive criticism on how we could improve. Wishing nothing but best to the Mets moving forward." 

For a piece published over the weekend, Mike Puma of the New York Post reported that Verlander and fellow former Mets starter Max Scherzer "had a strained relationship as (Detroit Tigers) teammates (from 2010-14), and a source said even as the pitchers worked toward harmony with the Mets, there was occasional discord."

Puma added that a Met referred to Verlander as a "diva" who caused Scherzer "to grouse about his fellow three-time Cy Young Award winner." 

Puma wrote that Verlander "often complained about the Mets' analytics department, which he deemed inferior to the one that served him in Houston." The Mets beat reporter also claimed that the 40-year-old "was largely detached from teammates, according to the Met, and didn’t add to the team’s identity." 

Days after Verlander returned to the Astros via a trade, he told reporters he "would recommend" the Mets to any free agent because "how they treat their players is A+ from top to bottom." 

However, multiple knowledgeable individuals have since mentioned that the disappointing Mets had "issues" in the clubhouse as the Amazins plummeted toward the basement of the division standings. 

What's done is done, as big-spending Mets owner Steve Cohen didn't hesitate to sign off on blowing up a roster that will go down as one of the most disappointing in franchise history. 

Outsiders may never fully understand why this year's Mets spectacularly failed to live up to expectations, but it certainly seems off-the-field problems hovered over the club throughout the spring and summer months.