The Mets may have just caught a $17.5 million break

The New York Mets are rolling. The blue and orange have won seven games in a row to climb to just two games under .500 (35-37), and with a weak National League, they are only 0.5 games out of the final wild card spot.

Although there is still plenty of time before the trade deadline and the Mets season could go south, it appears that, unlike last year, the blue and orange won’t see a sell-off complete.

The Mets had two of the biggest weapons at last year’s deadline, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, and got decent returns for each after agreeing to send money their way. Some of the money sent by the blue and orange had conditions attached and one of those conditions may not be activated.

Justin Verlander back on injured reserve

Verlander was scratched from his scheduled start last Saturday against the Detroit Tigers due to neck pain the 41-year-old had been dealing with for two weeks. The Virginia native was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, retroactive to June 16.

The earliest the three-time Cy Young Award winner will be able to return is July 1, but his timeline is unknown. This is the second time Verlander has been on the injured list. He opened the IL campaign with a shoulder injury and did not debut until April 19.

Why it matters to the Mets?

When the Mets agreed to trade Verlander to the Houston Astros, the blue and orange agreed to pay $25 million of his 2024 salary and half of his $35 million 2025 salary, which will only be required only if his option is acquired.

For Verlander to have the option to vest next season, the 41-year-old had to pitch at least 140 innings this season. So far, the Virginia native has pitched 57 innings in 10 starts, meaning Verlander is expected to pitch 83 more innings before the regular season ends.

If Verlander reaches the 140-inning threshold, then his option is vested and the Mets must pay the Astros $17.5 million. Otherwise, Verlander becomes a free agent, and the blue and orange are out of the woods.