The Boston Red Sox are battling for an American League wild-card spot, and they reportedly almost landed an ace for the stretch run ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline.
Levi Weaver and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the American League East team was "one of the clubs that pursued a deal for the most accomplished starter who did get moved—three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander."
Yet the New York Mets ultimately traded Verlander to the Houston Astros.
Even making the best offer might not have been enough for Boston.
Weaver and Rosenthal noted Verlander preferred to return to the Astros, where he pitched from 2017 through 2022, and "might not have waived his no-trade clause for any club but Houston.