Justin Verlander discusses Mets future amid trade deadline speculation

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander remains committed to helping the New York Mets pursue a World Series title. 

"I mean, I came here to win a championship," Verlander told Will Sammon of The Athletic. "Look, nobody, including myself, is giving up on this season. But you have to have a long lens. Everyone wants the immediate satisfaction of now, now, now. I didn’t sign a one-year deal." 

Verlander put pen to paper on a two-year, $86.66M contract that includes a vesting third-year option to join the Mets in December long before baseball's most expensive squad became a league laughingstock. 44-50 New York began Wednesday trailing the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East standings by 17.5 games, and the Amazins were eight games back of a wild-card berth. 

As for Verlander, he failed to make his official Mets debut until early May due to a shoulder issue. Most recently, he was booed off the mound following another lackluster performance, this time against the Los Angeles Dodgers this past Friday. The 40-year-old will enter Wednesday's home start against the Chicago White Sox holding a 3-5 record with a 3.72 ERA across 13 starts and just 75 innings of work this season. 

Verlander and fellow advertised co-ace Max Scherzer have been subjects of trade rumors for weeks, but both Joel Sherman of the New York Post and Andy Martino of SNY reported Wednesday that Mets ownership isn't yet ready to give up on the 2023 season even though the Aug. 1 trade deadline is approaching. 

"There’s no reason to think it’s like, abandon ship and sell everything and not try to win going forward," Verlander told Sammon. "I remain committed to trying to win a championship here." 

Verlander added he's "really enjoyed" calling New York home even though customers at Citi Field haven't hidden their dissatisfaction throughout the summer. 

"I think the fans have been great," he said. "They’re still cheering. They boo when we don’t do well. But that is what it is. The fans have been great. You can tell they’re still rooting. They’re coming out. They’re supporting us. They’re cheering for us. They want us to win. The boos are just the frustration. We’re all frustrated. We want to win just as much or more than anyone else."

While Verlander insisted he and his teammates are trying to "stay positive" and "will" themselves to succeed, the math suggests time is running out before big-spending owner Steve Cohen may have to make some difficult decisions regarding what is best for the Mets beyond what's become one of the most disappointing campaigns in franchise history.