Will Houston Astros Pull Off a Reunion with Mets Ace Verlander at Trade Deadline?

After a successful six year run with the Houston Astros that saw Justin Verlander win two World Series trophies, five division titles and two Cy Young awards, he decided to leave for the New York Mets in free agency.

In the first season of his two-year $86.7 million contract, it has not gone as expected for the ace or the team.

Verlander has a 4-5 record with a 3.47 ERA, his highest since 2014. The Mets have underperformed all season, sitting at 46-53 entering Tuesday. That puts them 18-and-a-half games back in the NL East and seven games out of the final Wild Card spot.

Despite the struggles, both New York and their big free agent signing seem committed to each other.

Verlander told Jon Heyman of The New York Post, "I enjoy it here. I want to be here. I’m a New York Met. I signed here to win a championship here. I want to leave a legacy here. That’s why I signed up here. Until that’s put on my plate, if it’s ever put on my plate, I don’t think about that stuff."

However, the ace's former team is in desperate need of pitching help and are looking at all options to acquire it.

The Astros have not been quiet about the position they are targeting before the trade deadline. General manager Dana Brown has made it clear starting pitching and bullpen depth are their top priorities.

It could make sense for Houston to bring back Verlander, considering his familiarity with the organization.

Owner Jim Crane did make an aggressive play to get him at the deadline in 2017.

One of the reasons why the Mets were able to get Verlander is because Crane didn't want to give him as much money as he got on the open market. For him to turn around and give up assets to acquire him months later seems like a stretch.

But the Astros have been aggressive at the deadline before and reuniting with their former ace when they need starting pitching could be something the organization does before Aug. 1.

More From SI's Inside The Astros: