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.

FIFA fan policies

FIFA to allow disposable water bottles in Houston Stadium for World Cup

Photo by Peter Dazely Getty Images

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In a change of policy, FIFA will now allow fans to bring their own water bottles to some stadiums during the World Cup, including Reliant Stadium, called "Houston Stadium" during the tournament.

FIFA's decision adjusted a policy that had barred spectators from bringing refillable water bottles into the tournament’s 16 stadiums across North America, including some with limited or no shade from the sun.

FIFA in a social media post said fans will be permitted to bring one, soft, plastic, 20-ounce, factory-sealed, disposable water bottle into any match taking place in the United States or Canada.

Swell stainless steel water bottles Reusable water bottles are a no for World Cup. Greenhead.com

In a video released by FIFA, Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi said fans will still not be permitted to bring in hard sided, reusable water bottles “due to safety and security reasons.”

FIFA stated, “for the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium.”

FIFA’s stadium rules had stated that fans could bring in a transparent, reusable bottle up to one liter, or 33.8 ounces capacity. On Thursday, June 4, the “Stadium Code of Conduct” update was criticized by an English fan group, which argued FIFA had given assurances on carrying empty plastic bottles to fill with freely available water at a tournament where heat and extreme weather are expected to be a factor.

Seven FIFA World Cup matches will be played in Houston. AT&T Stadium in Arlington. They includes Germany vs. Curaçao (June 14), Portugal vs. Congo DR (June 17), Netherlands vs. Sweden (June 20), Portugal vs. Uzbekistan (June 23), and Cabo Verde vs. Saudi Arabia (June 26)

The stadium will also host a Round of 32 match (June 29) and one Round of 16 match (July 4).

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