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 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.
He is considered perhaps the best pitcher of his generation, with the most innings pitched, strikeouts and wins among active players.
After a dominant 13-year stretch with the Detroit 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.
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