The Detroit Tigers have officially brought home a franchise icon, announcing on 10 February 2026, that they have signed three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander to a one-year contract. The deal, worth $13 million (CAD $17.5 million), marks a full-circle moment for the 42-year-old right-hander who began his legendary career in the Motor City over two decades ago.
The contract includes a unique structure, with $11 million of the total value deferred, according to reports from USA Today. Verlander returns to Detroit following a 2025 campaign with the San Francisco Giants, where he posted a 4-11 record and a 3.85 ERA across 150-plus innings. Despite the win-loss record, Verlander’s underlying metrics—including 137 strikeouts and a 1.36 WHIP—suggested he remains a viable mid-to-top rotation starter in the twilight of his career.
Career Milestone Watch
Verlander enters the 2026 season with one of the most decorated resumes in modern baseball history. His return to Detroit allows him to chase significant career milestones in the uniform where he earned the 2006 AL Rookie of the Year and the 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young awards. His current career totals include:
- Wins: 266
- Strikeouts: 3,553
- All-Star Selections: 9
- Cy Young Awards: 3 (2011, 2019, 2022)
Impact on the Tigers Rotation
The signing is viewed as both a sentimental homecoming and a strategic veteran addition for a Tigers squad looking to bolster its pitching depth. Verlander is expected to slot into a rotation that has shown flashes of brilliance but lacked a veteran “workhorse” presence. For Detroit fans, the move ends years of speculation regarding a potential reunion with the future Hall of Famer, who played for the Tigers from 2005 until his trade to the Houston Astros in 2017.
While some analysts, including those at Climbing Tal’s Hill, noted that other former teams like the Astros may have viewed a reunion as “risky” given Verlander’s age, the Tigers’ front office is betting on his leadership and experience to mentor their younger arms. With the 2026 season widely speculated to be Verlander’s final year in Major League Baseball, his return ensures that one of the greatest pitchers of his generation will likely retire where it all began.