Justin Verlander is returning to where his big league career began back in 2005. The iconic right-hander, who turns 43 on Feb. 20, agreed to a one-year, $13 million deal ($11 million deferred) with the Tigers on Tuesday.
Entering his 21st Major League season in 2026, Verlander is one of the most decorated starting pitchers in MLB history. The veteran right-hander has three Cy Young Awards to his name, as well as nine All-Star selections, two ERA titles, the 2011 AL MVP Award and two World Series rings, among other accolades. His three career no-hitters make him one of only six pitchers to have three or more.
He joins a staff alongside another decorated pitcher, two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, and a former rotation mate with the Astros in Framber Valdez.
Verlander also has a wealth of playoff experience -- over 226 career postseason innings, he owns a 3.58 ERA and he was named the MVP of the 2017 AL Championship Series with the Astros.
But even with all of those impressive accomplishments, Verlander isn’t done yet, proving he still has more left in the tank following a solid showing with the Giants in 2025. In his age-42 campaign, he posted a 3.85 ERA over 29 starts for San Francisco while surpassing the 3,500-strikeout mark for his illustrious career (he is currently eighth all-time with 3,553 strikeouts).
Verlander was not eligible to receive a qualifying offer after last season since he got one from the Astros in 2021. Thus, there is no Draft pick compensation attached to him, or penalty for signing him.
Verlander’s strengths in 2025 were his ability to generate soft contact -- his 37% hard-hit rate ranked in the 78th percentile among qualified pitchers -- and his relative effectiveness with his secondary offerings.
No longer possessing the triple-digit fastball he was once famous for, Verlander still threw the fastball more than any other pitch last season. But opponents hit .246 against all other pitches he threw, and his changeup and sweeper were particularly effective -- opponents hit .200 against the changeup and just .058 against the sweeper.
Verlander began his Major League career at age 22 with the Tigers in 2005, and after spending his first 13 seasons with Detroit, he pitched for the Astros, Mets and Giants, winning a pair of World Series titles with Houston in 2017 and ’22.
After signing with San Francisco last offseason, Verlander said his goal was “proving that I still have it” and added that he hoped to pitch until at least age 45. He’ll get his chance to continue that quest.