It’s been almost two years since Justin Verlander pitched in a major league game, but he’s expected to return to the mound in the 2022 season.

The 38-year-old Verlander has been recovering from Tommy John Surgery and has pitched in one game since the 2019 season.

With Verlander expected to sign somewhere for 2022 as long as he’s able to stay healthy, and if he’s able to, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post has predicted that Verlander will sign with the New York Yankees.

Verlander going to the Yankees is interesting, as his wife, actress Kate Upton, is well known for being a huge Yankees fan, so that could factor into his decision.

Davidoff also predicted a one-year, $20 million deal for Verlander, which sounds like something Brian Cashman would totally go for considering he likes to take chances on bargain hunting pitchers, like he did with Corey Kluber, who worked out until May and landed on the injured list for almost four months.

Verlander is a pending Hall of Famer once he hangs the cleats up. He’s also a fierce gamer and competitor who wants to win, so what better way for Verlander to get back in the thick of things and sign with a playoff contender like the Yankees, who always need pitching.

The Yankees will have a returning Luis Severino to go along with Gerrit Cole, but that isn’t enough given the question marks surrounding the Yankees rotation after them. Can Jordan Montgomery be more productive? Can Jameson Taillon be effective after his surgery? Can Nestor Cortes Jr have the same kind of impact he did from a year ago?

These are all questions that will likely lead to the Yankees and Brian Cashman shelling out the one-year deal for Verlander. Because let’s face it, it’s the move we can all see him making in the off-season.

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