Homecoming
On Tuesday, February 10, Justin Verlander signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. This is a uniquely structured contract where he will receive a $2 million base salary in 2026 and then deferred money starting in 2030. This is one of the best homecomings since Andrew McCutchen returned to the Pittsburgh Pirates a few years ago. Verlander, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, has stated in the past that he would like to pitch until he is 45. Well, he will be 43 in just a couple of days, and the time is running out on the shot clock in his illustrious career. Verlander started his career with the Tigers and was in their organization from 2004 until a buzzer-beating deal that sent him to the infamous 2017 Houston Astros. He would then start his second career with his second team, and had lots of success, but that is besides the point today because he is back where he belongs in Detroit.
Verlander won a Cy Young, a Triple Crown, an MVP, and six All-Star appearances. He was a staple in their rotation during their deep playoff runs in the early 2010s alongside the likes of Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello, Doug Fister, and Anibal Sanchez. He led this amazing staff to a World Series Appearance in 2012 and was a young piece of their 2006 World Series roster. We often do not get the chance to see players end up back with the team that they are best known for being on late in their career, especially nowadays. It will just feel right to see him back in Comerica Park.
2025 Success
All of the nostalgia to see Justin Verlander back in Detroit is great, but we have to focus on performance. There is a reason as to why he received $13 million. Verlander is only three seasons removed from a ridiculous 1.75 ERA Cy Young season with the Houston Astros, and although he has not been quite close to that in the years following, he has been a solid starter for the New York Mets, Houston Astros, and San Francisco Giants the last three years. He has developed into a mercenary role late in his career, but hopefully we will be able to see him stay in Detroit until father time comes to get him, or he hangs up the cleats himself.
Verlander played in San Francisco a year ago, and honestly, after some early-season struggles, he settled in nicely to their rotation. The old and antiquated stat of Win-Loss ratio did not favor him too kindly, with a 4-11 record, but he had a solid 3.85 ERA in 150+ innings pitched. His FIP (fielding independent pitching) was the same at 3.85. Older pitchers also struggle with the long ball, but Verlander only gave up 16 home runs last season, which is good for an older pitcher with declining velocity. If you take a look a bit deeper at the numbers, they show that his stuff has been pretty average to below average, but boasts an elite hard hit % against, meaning that he is not allowing hard contact.
2026 Outlook
With older pitchers, it is very hard to predict the impact they may have on their team in the coming season, but Verlander will at least be reduced to the third option in the Tigers’ rotation behind Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez. Most likely, he will slot in behind Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize as the Tigers’ 5. There is a chance that he and Reese Olson will be the bottom two options in their rotation at season’s end, but this is such a great opportunity for the Detroit Tigers to be as successful as they were fifteen years ago. The lineup has much to be desired at times, but the resigning of Gleyber Torres should at least keep them where they were a year ago.
If you want to check out more about the Tigers’ 2026 season, check out this article here:
