The Blue Jays added two free agent starting pitchers this winter, inking Yusei Kikuchi and Kevin Gausman to multi-year deals. But, they almost signed another top starter.The Blue Jays were one of the best offers for free agent SP Justin Verlander, the The Jays had " Brandon Graham Jersey the same offer" that Verlander ultimately returned to Houston on, he said, which was a one-year $25 million deal, with a player option for 2023 at the same amount."Some other teams really started to show a lot of interest," "I would say that the leader was probably Toronto. They were great. And I talked to George Springer a bunch. They were very proactive to the point that when I signed with Houston, I made Jason Kelce Jersey sure to let them know that Rasul Douglas Jersey I appreciated it all."Scroll to ContinueComing off Tommy John surgery with limited innings over the last two years, Verlander ultimately returned to Houston. The veteran weighed similar offers from the Jays and Astros, with the Yankees "kind of always just a step behind," he told Pa san.Since signing his new deal in Houston, Verlander has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. The 39-year-old has a 1.94 ERA in 78.2 innings Avonte Maddox Jersey , leading the American League in WHIP and hits per nine.It's unclear how a Verlander signing would've impacted the rest of Toronto's offseason. The veteran agreed to terms on the new deal just before the MLB lockout began, around the same time Gausman signed in Toronto and months before they landed Kikuchi.With Kikuchi and Gausman joining Alek Manoah, Jos Berros, Ro s Stripling, and the now-injured Hyun Jin Ryu, Toronto's rotation has been one of the better units in MLB in 2022. Harold Carmichael Jersey With a 3.79 ERA from starters, Toronto's rotation ranks sixth in baseball, just behind Verlander's Astros.