LAKELAND, Fla. -- Turns out there’s a full circle in the Olde English D, at least for Justin Verlander.
Nine years after Verlander’s trade away from Detroit marked the unofficial beginning of the Tigers’ rebuild, his return is the latest sign of the Tigers’ intent to make the most of their new era of contention. Detroit has brought back the former AL MVP, three-time Cy Young winner and one-time face of the franchise on a one-year, $13 million contract.
It was a stunning bit of news that the team itself broke with a press release Tuesday afternoon, hours ahead of the first official workout for Tigers pitchers and catchers. Yet as surprising as the signing might be, it ends years of speculation of whether Verlander might bring his career back where it started. It also pairs Verlander with Tarik Skubal, who matched Verlander’s pitching Triple Crown feat two years ago, while reuniting Verlander with A.J. Hinch, his manager from his 2017 World Series title in Houston, and former Astros teammate Framber Valdez.
Until Skubal emerged from a ninth-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft to win back-to-back Cy Young Awards, Verlander was the franchise’s greatest Draft selection since homegrown champions Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker, Jack Morris and Lance Parrish. Former general manager Dave Dombrowski and scouting director Greg Smith drafted Verlander second overall in 2004, then watched the former Old Dominion product blossom into a power-fastball, buckling-curveball strikeout machine. He won AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2006 while helping lead the Tigers to their first World Series berth in 22 years.
Five years later, Verlander led the American League with 24 wins, 250 strikeouts and a 2.40 ERA. Not only did he win MVP and Cy Young honors, he fronted a dominant rotation that hurled Detroit into a new era of glory. The Tigers won four consecutive AL Central titles from 2011-14, with Cy Young winners Verlander, Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello as the constants atop a rotation that also featured Aníbal Sánchez and David Price.
Verlander talked at the time of wanting to pitch well into his 40s, emulating the great Nolan Ryan. Now Verlander, who turns 43 years old on Feb. 20, joins a rotation that includes Skubal, Valdez, former No. 1 overall pick turned All-Star Casey Mize and Jack Flaherty.
It feels right, but it was far from destined. The Tigers’ decision to sign Alex Cobb early last offseason to a similar one-year, $15 million contract that Verlander signed with the Giants later in the offseason felt like a sliding-doors scenario once hip injuries sidelined Cobb from Spring Training through the season. Verlander had his own struggles on the mound in San Francisco. A right pectoral injury landed him on the injured list for a month, costing him a chance to pitch at Comerica Park, and he had a 4.99 ERA on July 18. Then Verlander found his old form.
Verlander posted a 2.60 ERA, 3.36 FIP and nearly as many strikeouts (70) as innings (72 2/3) over his final 13 starts, averaging nearly six innings per outing. He tossed back-to-back seven-inning performances with one run allowed in September. Four of his five September outings were quality starts.
Verlander couldn’t pitch the Giants into the postseason, but his strong finish put him in line to sign with a contender for 2026 as he looks to add another World Series to his Hall of Fame resume. Turns out that chase brought him back where it all started. His deal includes a $2 million base salary and $11 million in deferred payments starting in 2030.