The Houston Astros surprised everyone — their own players included — pulling off an MLB trade deadline deal to acquire pitcher Zack Greinke.
Afterward, Justin Verlander tweeted out a message that showed how excited he was about the move. Then, one day later, he elaborated.
“To bring in a guy of that caliber, not only for this year but for the next couple of years, I think it was a great move for the organization for now and the future,” Verlander said, per MLB.com.
Verlander gave the team’s front office a lot of credit for going after the big fish and noted how big of a shot in the arm this trade was for the entire team.
“I think they did a great job of understanding where we’re at as an organization and keeping their foot on the gas and extending that window,” he said. “I don’t know what went on behind the scenes, but that was a huge move, a huge boost of morale in the clubhouse. Not that we were low, but man that’s a shot in the arm, a shot of adrenaline getting guys like that.”
Not surprisingly, oddsmakers have Houston as a favorite to win the World Series now after they acquired Greinke. With a potent trio of starting pitchers, a solid bullpen and as dynamic an offensive lineup as there is in baseball, this team has the pieces in place to win its second championship in three years.