Baseball careers rarely come full circle, but top veteran star has done just that. More than two decades after making his Major League debut in Detroit, the future Hall of Famer is heading back to the city where his legend first took shape. As the Tigers aggressively reshape their roster and signal a renewed push toward contention, his return brings leadership, experience, and unfinished business to Motown. The reunion pairs one of the most accomplished pitchers of his generation with a franchise eager to recapture past glory — setting the stage for one of the most compelling storylines of the upcoming season.
As he enters his 21st Major League season, top right hander is returning to where it all began — Detroit. The veteran right-hander agreed to a one-year, $13 million deal with the Tigers, reuniting with the organization that launched his Hall of Fame–caliber career. Verlander, a three-time American League Cy Young Award winner, joins a revamped Detroit rotation led by reigning ace Tarik Skubal and newly signed left-hander Framber Valdez.
Verlander, who will turn 43 on February 20, spent the first 13 seasons of his career with the Tigers, compiling a 183-114 record and a 3.49 ERA. His standout 2011 campaign included a 24-5 record, a 2.40 ERA, and both the AL Cy Young Award and AL MVP honors.
Detroit dealt Verlander to Houston in August 2017, where he played a pivotal role in Astros World Series titles in 2017 and 2022. Now back with the Tigers, Verlander has a chance to pursue another championship while helping Detroit chase its first World Series since 1984.
The contract includes $11 million in deferred payments beginning in 2030. Tigers pitchers and catchers are set to report for their first spring training workout on Wednesday.
Across 555 career starts, Verlander owns a 266-158 record with a 3.32 ERA, also making stops with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. He ranks 34th on MLB’s all-time wins list, tied with Bob Feller and Eppa Rixey, and sits eighth in career strikeouts with 3,553.
Verlander is coming off a challenging 2025 season with San Francisco, finishing 4-11 with a 3.85 ERA in 29 starts. However, his performance improved dramatically down the stretch, as he posted a 2.60 ERA from July 23 onward — the fourth-best mark in the National League among pitchers with at least 60 innings.
After missing a month due to a strained right pectoral muscle, Verlander returned on June 18 and endured a difficult start, opening the season 0-8 and going winless in his first 16 outings. His turnaround began with a victory at Atlanta on July 23, sparking a strong second half.
“Early on, it was tough,” Verlander said following his final start on Sept. 27. “But I made some mechanical adjustments and was able to get back on track. It’s exhausting when things aren’t going your way, but you have to stay positive and keep working.”
Signed to a one-year, $15 million deal by the Giants last offseason, Verlander often received limited run support and struggled in his home debut. Still, his late-season resurgence stood out, as opponents hit just .228 against him over his final 13 starts, with 10 of those outings featuring two or fewer earned runs.
In addition to Verlander’s return, Detroit officially finalized a three-year, $115 million contract with Valdez on Tuesday. The left-hander, who spent eight seasons with the Houston Astros, brings further firepower to the Tigers’ rotation.
Valdez’s deal includes an opt-out after the 2027 season and a mutual option for 2029 worth $40 million, with a $5 million buyout. His salaries are set at $17.5 million in 2026, $37.5 million in 2027, and $35 million in 2028, along with a fully deferred $20 million signing bonus beginning in 2030.
The two-time All-Star and 2022 World Series champion can earn additional incentives tied to Cy Young voting and postseason awards, provided he finishes the season healthy.