Astros trade for Verlander at 11th hour

Wait? What? How? Who? The Justin Verlander-Astros saga has taken a few strange turns this season, but it appears it has finally come to an end.

Multiple sources are reporting that the Houston Astros have traded for Detroit Tigers RHP Justin Verlander just before the August 31 playoff roster deadline.

Within the same hour, there were reports that Verlander had nixed the trade with his no-trade clause or the Astros had backed out. Either way, it appeared the Astros would again be holding the bag at a trade deadline after missing out on Zach Britton at the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

But just after 11 p.m. in Houston, the story had turned and Verlander is on his way to the Bayou City.

Verlander, 34, is 10-8 with 3.82 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP in 28 games in 2017. He slots in as the veteran option the Astros have needed with the team stumbling down the stretch. The only remaining questions are how much of the contract are the Tigers eating and what prospects are the Astros giving up?