Tigers Reunite With Future Hall Of Fame Right-Hander
He's still got some baseball left in him.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a one-year contract with three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander.
Verlander has built one of the most accomplished pitching careers in MLB history. Drafted second overall by the Tigers in 2004, he debuted in 2005 and quickly established himself as an elite starter. He earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2006, captured the AL MVP and Cy Young Award in 2011 (becoming the first pitcher to win both since 1986), and led the league in strikeouts five times, ERA twice, and wins three times during his initial 13 seasons in Detroit, where he amassed 183 wins.
In 2017, Verlander joined the Houston Astros midseason via trade and transformed their rotation. He contributed to their 2017 World Series title, posted dominant seasons, including an 18-win, sub-2.00 ERA campaign in 2022 that earned him his third Cy Young, and added another World Series ring in 2022. A brief stint with the New York Mets in 2023 preceded his return to Houston, where he continued competing at a high level despite some injury setbacks in 2024.
After signing with the San Francisco Giants for 2025, Verlander delivered a resilient performance at age 42. He made 29 starts, logged 152 innings, struck out 137 batters, and finished with a 3.85 ERA. He overcame a slow start (including a pectoral strain) to post a strong second half with a 2.99 ERA after the All-Star break. This effort pushed his career totals to 266 wins (leading active pitchers), 3,553 strikeouts (eighth all-time and surpassing 3,500 during the year), a 3.32 ERA over 3,567 2/3 innings, and a bWAR of around 82.
Now, Verlander’s return to Detroit brings his career full circle as he pursues further milestones, including the pursuit of 300 wins, while remaining among the most decorated active pitchers.
