The phone calls came early.
As soon as the season ended, Justin Verlander picked up the phone and reached out to Scott Harris, Chris Ilitch and A. J. Hinch. The message was simple: he wanted to come home.
“I grew up in front of the fans in Detroit. I grew up in Detroit,” Verlander said Thursday during his press conference, his voice carrying the weight of history and unfinished business.
For Verlander, this return is not about nostalgia alone. It is about something he left on the table.
“The one thing I would like to accomplish in Detroit that I had a couple shots at, that I really regret not achieving, was a World Series title,” he said.
Those words lingered in the room. For a franchise that came within reach in 2006 and 2012, they carry meaning. For a fan base that watched Verlander evolve from flame-throwing rookie to Cy Young ace under the bright lights at Comerica Park, they hit home.
But this reunion was not automatic.
“At first, it didn't seem like there was much room for me,” Verlander admitted. “We had some very candid conversations, Scott and I.”
The Tigers’ roster, built carefully under Harris, is anchored by youth and upside. The plan, as Verlander acknowledged, did not initially include him. “Obviously, a lot of young talent here. They've done a great job of bringing guys in,” he said.
Then circumstances changed.
“Unfortunately, there were some things that happened recently where some innings they were planning on — aren't going to be filled, so I think that opened the door,” Verlander said. “That's not the way you want it to go.”
It was an honest assessment. Injuries and shifting plans created an opening, but Verlander’s desire to return had already been made clear. When the door cracked, both sides were prepared to walk through it.
Now, he is back in the clubhouse where he first established himself as one of the game’s premier arms. Back in the uniform with the Old English “D.” Back in front of the fans who watched him throw no-hitters, win an MVP and carry October hopes on his right arm.
“I’m happy to wear the Old English ‘D’ again and happy to be here,” he said.
For Detroit, this is more than a sentimental signing. It is a bridge between eras — between the Tigers teams that came close and the emerging core that believes its window is just opening.
For Verlander, it is simpler.
There is one more thing to accomplish. And he wants to finish what he started — in Detroit.
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