Now what will happen with Mets’ Justin Verlander?

Feb 17, 2023; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer (21) and New York Mets starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throw pitches in the bull pen during spring training workouts. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports / © Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

For all the outside speculation about the Texas Rangers and Justin Verlander in recent days, Texas and the Mets never engaged in talks about that future Hall of Famer. It was always Max Scherzer, going back several days when discussions began.

The complex Scherzer deal took up most of GM Billy Eppler’s time on Saturday — which is why it’s good that he did that and Thursday’s David Robertson-to-Miami trade with days to go before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

“It was smart that they got an early start,” said one rival executive.

There is still time to figure out if Verlander has a future with the Mets. It is not a foregone conclusion that the team will trade him simply because they parted with Scherzer — but on the other hand, the return for Scherzer suggests that they could score an excellent prospect or more by trading Verlander, who is enjoying a better season.

By paying Scherzer’s salary down to $22.5 million, the Mets were able to score Luisangel Acuna, the Rangers’ third-best prospect per MLB Pipeline, and Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr.’s younger brother.

Scouts following the Mets in recent weeks strongly believed that Scherzer’s stuff had declined more than Verlander’s, though one did not have to be a scout to observe that. Scherzer’s value to the Rangers is questionable, but Verlander seems able to help a team like the one he recently left, the Houston Astros (yes, they are interested).

“I could see the Astros, where he’s comfortable, getting him through six innings in a postseason game and turning it over to the bullpen,” said one scout who has seen all of Verlander’s recent starts.

The Mets have not yet gotten far enough down the road in any Verlander talks to ask the pitcher about waiving his no-trade clause. They do not know if he is willing to move, or if the selloff means that he would now prefer playing elsewhere.

Soon enough, they might have to ask him.