On Wednesday, starting pitcher Justin Verlander signed a one-year, $25 million contract to return to the Houston Astros, which also included a player option for the 2023 season. This came after Verlander missed the entire 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery.
During Thursday's installment of "Nothing Personal with David Samson," David Samson said he believes that the Astros overpaid for Verlander's services because the 39-year-old previously leaked that he wanted to attend spring training in Florida rather than Arizona.
"I don't want the reputation that you believe that I will always call every contract an overpay. Because I don't," Samson said. "What I do call out is when people on one side of a negotiation do not fully use the leverage they have to their advantage because they're scared or desperate."
Verlander has a home in West Palm Beach, Florida and the Astros train at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches complex. That particular complex is located in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Samson is making the point that Verlander obviously wanted to sign with the Astros because he has a home nearby. In addition, Samson believes that the Astros overpaid for Verlander because he was most likely going to sign with Houston anyway.
