Astros continue to get special treatment from MLB, approved to sign Justin Verlander

When the Astros were caught participating in the biggest cheating scandal in sports history two offseasons ago, they received such minimal punishment that it felt like more of a joke than a punishment.

The only punishment that the LA Angels' AL West Division rival received is listed here:

1-year suspensions for Manager A.J. Hinch and GM Jeff Luhnow
$5 million fine
Stripped of first- and second-round picks for 2020 and 2021

It was an incredibly light punishment, and would appear that Rob Manfred has some sort of soft spot for Houston. That soft spot was confirmed on Monday, when Manfred let the Astros sign Justin Verlander during an MLB lockout.

If only the LA Angels were given the special treatment that the Astros have been awarded.

Nobody, not even just the LA Angels, would have gotten away with what the Houston Astros just got away with. No team is allowed to sign anybody during the MLB lockout, correct? Well, when you're the Houston Astros, anything is possible.

A Verlander contract signed by the Verlander and the Astros was submitted the night of 12/1. After working with the Union, the Commissioner’s Office has approved the contract. Since the contract was signed prior to the expiration of the CBA it’s valid for the 2022 season.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 13, 2021

So because the contract was SUBMITTED, but not at all finished, it's now allowed to be approved and signed?

How many other contracts would be done by now if this treatment was being approved for every team? General Managers and players all over the league would have been submitting contracts to the league just before the lockout. Remember how many players were actively negotiating with GM's all over the league just before the lockout, but couldn't finish deals due to the lockout?

Justin Verlander’s contract with the Astros is now official, as @Buster_ESPN said. The holdup regarded language in his contract, and that issue has now been resolved, even with the lockout in progress.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 13, 2021

If there was a holdup in the language of his contract, how could the deal have been successfully submitted? How would that make this deal any different than other deals players and teams were trying to work out?

Unfortunately, we will never know. This is yet another example of the league going easy on the Astros.

Next: Grading the offseason so far

Looks like it clearly may not even have mattered if they re-signed Verlander or anyone. The league would find a way to help them win regardless.

If only the LA Angels were given the special treatment that the Astros have been awarded.

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