agreed to an $80 million, five-year contract, a person familiar with
the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity
Wednesday night because the deal had not been announced. The person
said the contract could be completed as soon as Thursday.
Verlander won a career-high 19 games with a
career-best 3.45 ERA last season. He is 65-43 with a 3.92 ERA in four
full seasons with the Tigers.
The sides agreed to bypass salary arbitration.
When figures were exchanged last month, Verlander asked for $9.5
million for next season and the team offered $6.9 million.
Verlander ended up securing a more lucrative
contract than Felix Hernandez. The Seattle Mariners gave their ace a
$78 million, five-year deal. Verlander turns 27 this month and
Hernandez, who is 58-41 with a 3.45 ERA, will be 24 in April.
Verlander made $3,675,000 last season.
Detroit's decision to keep Verlander with a
long-term deal backs up the franchise's claim that it is still
committed to spending money to stay competitive.
The Tigers traded popular outfielder Curtis
Granderson and All-Star pitcher Edwin Jackson for younger, cheaper
players. They also let second baseman Placido Polanco along with
relievers Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon leave in free agency.
Detroit did, though, instill some hope for this season when it landed closer Jose Valverde with a $14 million, two-year deal.
Even if the Tigers are done reshaping their
roster, they'll be able to appease at least some fans by keeping
Verlander under contract for at least five more years. With the new
deal, they won't risk losing him in free agency after the 2011 season.
The hard-throwing Verlander is the only
pitcher in baseball history to toss a no-hitter, start a World Series
game, be a Rookie of the Year and an All-Star in his first two full
seasons.
Detroit drafted Verlander with the second pick of the 2004 amateur draft and signed him just before losing his rights.
He dominated minor league competition in
2005, compiling an 11-2 record and 1.29 ERA at Class-A Lakeland and
Double-A Erie, and fared well in his first full season with the Tigers.
He was 17-9 in 2006 — earning AL Rookie of
the Year honors — and helped Detroit advance to the World Series for
the first time since 1984. He became the first Tigers pitcher to throw
a no-hitter since Jack Morris did it during the 1984 championship
season.
"When you're hitting your spots at 100 (mph),
to be honest, it's going to be a tough day," Milwaukee slugger Prince
Fielder said after Verlander's no-hitter. "The guy throws 95 to 100, so
you're not looking for a slider, and when he throws it that good for a
strike it just kind of buckles you and you have to tip your cap."
Verlander was 18-6 in his second season and
made the All-Star team. Only Dwight Gooden, who won 41 games for the
New York Mets during the 1984-85 seasons, won more games among pitchers
in their first two full seasons since 1970.
After struggling two years ago with an 11-17 record, Verlander bounced back with a sensational season.
He led the majors with 269 strikeouts, 240
innings pitched and 35 starts in 2009. His 19 wins matched the top
total in both leagues.
Former teammate Kenny Rogers said Verlander's
wicked fastball, wildly breaking curve and knee-buckling changeup give
him an assortment of pitches that reminded him only of Nolan Ryan.
"He's only going to get better and that's scary for other teams," Rogers has said.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Delmon Young
played with Verlander in the 2005 All-Star Futures Game and knows him
off the field because his brother, Dmitri, played in Detroit. They're
friendly, but that doesn't mean Young enjoys facing Verlander.
"It's not fun facing him when a guy can
uncork a fastball at 101 (mph) and drop a dirty split-fingered
changeup, and then a hammer, a curveball, that's really tough to hit,"
Young once said. "The guy has amazing tools. He knows how to pitch, and
he's only going to get better.
"Just stay healthy, and this guy can win multiple Cy Youngs."