Astros fans wasted no time Tuesday welcoming Kate Upton back to Houston.
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit alum, 31, received a slew of warm messages on Instagram from Astros faithful after the team re-acquired her husband, three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander, from the Mets ahead of the MLB trade deadline.
“Welcome Back to H-Town,” one fan wrote in the comments of Upton’s July 22 post. “We missed yall.”
Another Astros supporter exclaimed, “Welcome back to Houston! Cant wait to have your hubby and you back in town.”
“Welcome home!!!!” a separate fan shared.
Verlander, 40, was initially traded to the Astros from the Tigers in August 2017.
He went on to win two World Series titles with Houston, the most recent in November 2022.
A month later, Verlander signed a two-year deal with the Mets worth $86.6 million.
Although the Mets entered 2023 with lofty expectations, the season spiraled into a colossal disappointment with the team dealing a flurry of stars before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. deadline, including ace Max Scherzer to the Rangers and outfielder Tommy Pham to the Diamondbacks.
Everything to know about the Mets’ historic sell-off
After a disappointing season, the Mets are selling off their historically expensive roster.
The Amazins dealt out some big name players before the MLB trade deadline — including now-former co-aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
Below are the players the Mets have shipped out:
Tommy Pham
The Mets traded the outfielder minutes before the 6 p.m. deadline to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Arizona is sending back 17-year shortstop Jeremy Rodriguez, who has a .751 OPS rookie ball this season.
Justin Verlander
The Mets traded out Verlander, a sure-fire Hall of Fame pitcher, back to his former team, the Houston Astros.
The Amazins reportedly will receive top Astros prospect Drew Gilbert, a Double-A outfielder, and 20-year-old outfielder Ryan Clifford, who owns a .919 OPS through 83 games in Low- and High-A this year.
Max Scherzer
Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young winner that was a co-ace with Verlander, was sold off to the Texas Rangers.
The Mets landed one of the Rangers’ top prospects, Double-A infielder Luisangel Acuña, brother of Braves star Ronald Acuña.
Mark Canha
The veteran outfielder was dealt to the Brewers for Justin Jarvis, a promising 23-year-old pitcher that was ranked No. 12 in the Brewers’ farm system.
David Robertson
The Mets traded closer David Robertson to the Miami Marlins, a move that started off the club’s deadline dismantle.
In exchange for Robertson, who is having another terrific season, the Mets received a pair of minor leaguers, infielder Marco Vargas and catcher Ronald Hernandez, from Miami.
Verlander thanked the Mets on Tuesday in an Instagram tribute, as well as the team’s “incredible fans.”
“Thank you to the @mets and the incredible fans for my time here in NY,” he began.
“You welcomed me and my family with open arms and I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity to play for this amazing city.”
Verlander has been married to Upton since 2017.
The couple tied the knot in Italy shortly after Verlander’s first World Series win with the Astros.
Upton welcomed her first child with Verlander in November 2018, a daughter named Genevieve.
The Astros are currently in second in the NL West at 61-47.
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