The Detroit Tigers are bringing back a legendary pitcher who began his career with the team as their No. 2 pick in 2004.
The Detroit Tigers have made a lot of moves to bolster their starting rotation ahead of spring training, acquiring Framber Valdez in free agency to pair with two-time reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. They added to that rotation on Tuesday with a homecoming for a former ace who began his career in Detroit. The Tigers signed three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander to a one-year, $13 million contract, bringing him back to where he spent the first 13 seasons of his MLB career. Verlander, considered to be one of the best of his generation, has the most innings pitched, strikeouts, and wins among active players.
His 3,553 career strikeouts are eight in baseball history and his 266 victories tie for 34th. Verlander also reunites with his teammate, Valdez, from their time on the Houston Astros, where Verlander joined after his 13-year run in Detroit. He won the Cy Young in 2019 and 2022 while in Houston. He then inked an $86.6 million contract with the New York Mets before being traded back to the Astros. Verlander spent last season with the San Francisco Giants, experiencing a rocky, wild season in 2025 with a team-record 16 starts before his first win.
Here is the full story from Tigers Roundtable writer Rogelio Castillo on Verlander’s return home and the boost to Detroit’s rotation.
Verlander, after going 0-8 in his first 16 starts, went 4-11 overall. He only gave up nine earned runs in his winless stretch. He pitched a 3.85 ERA with 137 strikeouts in 152 innings for the Giants last season. The 42-year-old is 266-158 with a career 3.32 ERA with 3,553 strikeouts to 1,004 walks and a pair of World Series wins with the Astros. The nine-time All-Star will look to win his third with the team who drafted him No. 2 overall in the 2004 MLB draft.