There are trades that can alter not only a baseball game or a season, but the entire trajectory of a franchise. The Astros' move to acquire right-hander Justin Verlander ahead of last season's Aug. 31 deadline for a player to be eligible for the postseason roster, which preceded the first World Series title in club history, is certainly such a deal.
This week's episode of Executive Access looks back on that trade a year later with exclusive interviews from the people who made it happen.
• Executive Access Podcast: How the Astros landed Verlander in '17
Then-Houston ace Dallas Keuchel revisits the frustration in the Astros' clubhouse after the front office declined to make a splash acquisition in July. General manager Jeff Luhnow recounts the minute-by-minute negotiations of a complicated transaction that nearly fell through several times. And Verlander himself explains his decision to accept a move to Houston with only minutes to spare.

On Executive Access, MLB.com executive reporter Mark Feinsand provides a unique look at the people building Major League teams by engaging in candid interviews with front-office personnel from around MLB. Each week, you'll find out how they broke into the game, why they do what they do and how they envision the future of baseball. Look out for new episodes on Tuesdays.
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