Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander is returning to the team with which he started his career, signing a one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday.
Verlander, who turns 43 on Feb. 20, spent his first 13 seasons with the Tigers. He is considered perhaps the best pitcher of his generation, with the most innings pitched, strikeouts and wins among active players.
The nine-time All-Star said he wanted to return for a 21st major league season after experiencing a wild swing of highs and lows with the San Francisco Giants in 2025.
The right-hander signed a $15 million, one-year contract in January, went a team-record 16 starts before registering a win and then wrapped it up with career start No. 555, which ranks 27th all-time. Verlander also tied Bob Feller and Eppa Rixey for 34th place on baseball’s career win list with 266.
Verlander was 0-8 through his first 16 starts, but he gave up only nine earned runs over 41 1/3 innings (1.96 ERA) in his last seven. Overall, he went 4-11 with a 3.85 ERA with 137 strikeouts in 152 innings pitched.
After a dominant 13-year stretch with the Tigers, Verlander found a second life after joining the Houston Astros in 2017. He won Cy Youngs in 2019 and 2022 — and after the latter signed a two-year, $86.6 million contract with the New York Mets. Verlander spent 16 starts with the Mets before being traded back to the Astros in August 2023.
Over his career, Verlander is 266-158 with a 3.32 ERA over 3,567 2/3 innings. He has struck out 3,553 batters, walked 1,004 and won a pair of World Series with the Astros.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
