Verlander recalls ‘refreshing’ experience recruiting Posey originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Buster Posey and Justin Verlander will be together in Cooperstown one day, but because Posey spent his entire career with the Giants and Verlander spent virtually his entire career in the American League, the two haven’t had many fights. the field. They faced each other just three times in the regular season during Posey’s career, plus two matchups in Game 1 of the 2012 World Series.
The two have occasionally been MLB All-Stars at the same time, but until Posey called Verlander a few weeks ago, there wasn’t much exposure. However, Verlander soon discovered that he was very intrigued by the opportunity to pitch for a team Posey now manages.
“Honestly, it’s a little weird, but at the same time, I’m at that point in my career where I’m dealing with a lot of people that I’ve played against or that are younger than me. I’m pretty used to it,” Verlander said Monday morning during a Zoom call. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get completely used to it, but honestly, talking to someone like Buster with his experience was quite refreshing in a game that’s so packed with a lot of analysts right now. I think that was really something for me.” For me, that was a nice draw, just to talk to someone who has been on the field and competed and understands it, but also understands the analytics, right?
“It was very clear that he gets both sides. During those conversations it was very comfortable for me to talk to him, and hopefully the other way around. It was not awkward. A lot of thoughts went through my mind. I haven’t told him about a “There are a number of experiences I’ve had in my career that weren’t very fortunate for me, but obviously they didn’t get in his way.”
Verlander passed his physical exam this weekend and officially signed a one-year, $15 million contract that will keep him in San Francisco for his 20th MLB season. He was already in his third full season when the Giants drafted Posey in 2008, and Posey made sure to note on Monday that Verlander is four years older than him.
As successful as Posey was, he just signed someone who has an even bigger trophy case. Verlander is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and was so dominant at his peak that he also won an MVP award. He won a pair of World Series rings in Houston, and in San Francisco he will try to get closer to becoming the 25th player to join the 300-win club. Verlander, the active winners leader, is 38 away from reaching his 42nd birthday.
On Monday, Posey referenced that track record and made it clear he’s counting on Verlander to have a big season in 2025. The president of baseball operations said he’s seen stories about how Verlander can help the Giants’ young starters, and he believes he will, but that’s not why he’s here.
“First and foremost, we all see that this guy is at the top of the rotation and is very, very good, and he made that clear,” Posey said. “That’s our hope. I know that is also his hope and expectation.’
The Giants are betting big on Verlander, who will likely be their only notable addition to the rotation after flirting with Corbin Burnes, Roki Sasaki and other younger options. Verlander is also betting big on the Giants. No one wants to compete for fourth place after a two-decade career, and if Verlander wants to reach 300 wins in the next few years — a feat he subtly referenced in his Zoom call — he will benefit greatly from the Giants. be more competitive in 2025 than in recent seasons.
All of this could ultimately come down to health, and Verlander said everything is positive on that front right now. He made just 17 starts for the Houston Astros last season due to shoulder and neck issues, but said he has learned from both and has already made the necessary adjustments. Verlander never pitched in the offseason until this year, due to shoulder capsule discomfort last spring. He said he feels great physically and is already hitting about 90 mph during bullpen sessions.
This again is where Posey can perhaps lean on his own playing experience. He battled injuries later in his playing days, but bounced back in 2021 and had one of the best offensive seasons of his career. At the end of that season, at the age of 34, Posey retired. Perhaps that’s why one of his first questions to Verlander was whether he still has the passion to do this at a high level.
“I think I gave him a very long answer, longer than he intended,” Verlander said. “The fire is still burning.”
That call itself surprised Verlander, and he admitted Monday that he wasn’t really thinking about the Giants when MLB Free Agency began. Posey changed that by showing interest, and eventually the parties discovered they had common goals. On Monday, Verlander said he wouldn’t pitch again if he “didn’t think I could be great.” Posey thinks there is still a lot left in the tank.
“When we started the conversation a few weeks ago, it was very clear how motivated he is,” Posey said. “You don’t reach the level of greatness he has achieved in his career without the utmost fortitude and desire to be the best. When I think of pitchers of this generation, Justin is at the top for me. For him to go to San Francisco to come and continue and build on his career [what is] already his resume is in the Hall of Fame, it’s very exciting for us.”
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