Justin Verlander is returning to the Detroit Tigers after signing a one-year deal worth $13 million.

MLB.com reports that $11 million of the deal will be deferred, but no other details about the terms of the deferred payments were disclosed at the time of publishing.

The Tigers shared the news across their social media platforms stating, “The Tigers have signed three-time American League Cy Young and nine-time All-Star RHP Justin Verlander to a one-year contract for the 2026 season. Welcome home, JV!”

Fans were quick to share their reactions to the news of JV returning to Detroit, with many welcoming the veteran pitcher back to the city and the team where his career started. The comment section from the announcement on the Tigers’ Instagram was flooded with many emotional GIFs. A popular GIF used was of The Office‘s Michael Scott poignantly crying.

Over on X, one fan wrote, “JV will be to the Tigers pitching staff just like how Kenny Rogers was to the 2006 team. A teacher, a motivater and someone who has their back. A+ move by the Tigers organization.”

One commenter on the Tigers’ Facebook page wrote, “Even if JV has a losing record this season, he brings experience, leadership, and the ability to mentor young pitchers. As someone that has played and won in the playoffs and World Series, it’s an advantage and benefit to the Tigers. Worst case, he retires as a Tiger.”

Could This Be a Victory Lap for Justin Verlander?

Besides the overwhelming amount of excitement over his return, many fans on social media were quick to speculate about whether this one-year deal means Verlander intends to retire as a Tiger. After all, the right-hander turns 43 on Feb. 20.

His career is littered with honors, including three American League Cy Young Awards, a Triple Crown in 2011, three no-hitters, and two World Series Championships with the Houston Astros in 2017 and 2022. Simply put: Verlander is a future Hall of Famer and really doesn’t have anything else left to prove.

But not so fast!

In a Jan. 2025 interview with MLB.com, Verlander said of his baseball future, “I think you can tell that the passion is still there. The fire is still burning. I’m really viewing this past year’s issues as [having the] potential to send me down the path that I want to go down to finish my career and be able to play until 45 or more.”

Whatever his plans are, Tigers fans will be excited to see JV wearing the Old English D once again, particularly at the home opener at Comerica Park on Friday, April 3.