Justin Verlander has agreed to a one-year, $13 million deal to return to the Detroit Tigers, the team announced on Tuesday.
Of Verlander’s $13 million salary, $11 million will be deferred.
Verlander has not pitched for the Tigers since being dealt to the Houston Astros at the 2017 trade deadline. During his time with the franchise he was a six-time All-Star, was voted 2006 AL Rookie of the Year and was the winner of the 2011 AL Cy Young Award and MVP.
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He would spend parts of five seasons with the Astros, winning two more Cy Youngs and two World Series titles in Houston. Verlander then moved on to the New York Mets in 2023 before being traded back to the Astros during that season’s trade deadline and also spending the 2024 season with Houston.
Last season, the veteran right-hander went 4-11 with a 3.85 ERA and 1.362 WHIP in 152 innings with the San Francisco Giants.
Verlander, who has 266 career wins, joins a Tigers pitching staff that will also feature Framber Valdez, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, and a very excited Tarik Skubal.
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The Tigers will also look to also benefit from Verlander’s postseason experience after reaching the ALDS in each of the past two seasons. He has 226 playoff innings pitched, a 1.12 WHIP and 244 strikeouts in 38 postseason appearances.