JV leaving?

Astros ace Justin Verlander's free agency leaves his return to Houston up in the air

Justin Verlander Houston Astros World Series downtown parade 2022

Justin Verlander could be a free agent soon.

Photo by Marco Torres/@MarcoFromHouston

News dropped early on Thursday, November 10 that Astros ace Justin Verlander has exercised his player option and is now a free agent.

The first initial thought is to assume he's considering all offers and might be on his way out of Houston, but that's not necessarily the case. Less than an hour after Verlander declined the Astros' 1-year qualifying offer last year, he agreed to a new deal with Houston.

Astros owner Jim Crane mentioned on Wednesday, November 9 that the team had until 4 pm Thursday to negotiate with Verlander exclusively, which is still the case. But seeing the news first thing in the morning makes fans wonder if we're past the point of him agreeing to a deal before talking with other teams.

In Verlander's World Series media session, he spoke about being a free agent last year, and how that was a "cool new experience" for him. He also mentioned that the typical free agency experience, where players get “wined and dined” by teams, didn't play out last year because of COVID restrictions.

It also had to feel different for JV because he was a free agent coming back from Tommy John surgery who hadn't pitched in a game in almost two years.

Verlander may just want to enjoy the experience of being a free agent and bring all his offers to Jim Crane as a negotiation tactic. Crane, though, is more of a take-it-or-leave-it negotiator — just ask Carlos Correa.

It's entirely possible JV extends as early as Thursday. Or, he could go for all the money in free agency. Verlander probably doesn't know yet. Crane will likely let him walk if he wants top-of-the-market money.

Let's just hope JV is being thorough, listening to all the offers, enjoying a bunch of teams courting him, and ends up signing back with Houston.

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This story originally ran on our sister site SportsMap.

Cougar Red and Houston Blue

UH expands 'Houston Blue' uniforms, despite NFL cease-and-desist

UH continues using Houston Blue uniforms despite NFL rebuke

Photo courtesy of Houston Athletics

Luv ya Blue running wild.

University of Houston Athletics are in a “Luv ya blue” mood and they don’t care who knows it — not even the NFL.

The university has announced that its football and volleyball teams will wear new Houston Blue jerseys, reminiscent of the classic colors of the Houston Oilers era. The volleyball team's uniform will debut theirs starting November 9 against Texas Tech, while the football team will debut theirs against Baylor on November 23. At the latter event, the first 20,000 fans will receive commemorative Houston Blue rally towels.

The resemblance of the new colors to the Oilers brand was not lost on the NFL. When UH Athletics started incorporating Houston Blue into their uniforms in September 2023, the NFL sent a cease-and-desist letter claiming the uniforms were an attempt to leech off the legacy of the Oilers and the intellectual property of the team now known as the Tennessee Titans. As if to prove the point, the Titans have occasionally worn Columbia blue throwback uniforms at certain games.

UH is unbothered according to vice president for intercollegiate athletics Eddie Nuñez.

“As a university deeply connected to the fabric of Houston, incorporating ‘Houston Blue’ into our uniforms is a powerful way to celebrate the city’s rich history,” he said. “From iconic blue street markers to the Houston Police Department’s signature blue police cars and helicopters, this color holds a special place in the hearts of Houstonians. We’re thrilled to share this tradition with our fans and offer them the chance to show their pride through exclusive merchandise, making it an exciting time for Cougar Nation to rally together.”

The accompanying press release for the uniforms came with a helpful history lesson showing that the Oilers adopted a color widely associated with Houston, not the other way around. The city has incorporated blue into public infrastructure, from street curbs to city vehicles, since the 1920s. The Oilers weren’t even the first Houston team to use blue in their uniforms. That honor belongs to the minor league baseball team, the Houston Buffs. In addition, the university made minor changes to the uniform in response to the NFL's concerns.

UH will be offering a wide range of merchandise to sell in the new Houston Blue colors in person and online through the University of Houston Bookstore as well as at select local retailers. These include shirts, hats, polos, jerseys, and hoodies. Get them before the NFL sends a more strongly-worded letter.

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Fans of Houston sports and Houston food can now score tickets to The Tailgate, CultureMap's all-out party devoted to everyone’s favorite way to get in the gameday spirit. The event, presented by Verizon, goes down from 6-9 pm November 11 at 8th Wonder. Find out more about it here.

university of houston houston blue