DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers have brought back longtime ace Justin Verlander for the 2026 season.
Verlander, 42, spent 13 years with the Tigers from 2005-2017 before he was traded midseason to the Houston Astros.
He won 183 games with Detroit while posting a 3.49 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 2,511 innings. He struck out 2,373 batters.
Verlander made six All-Star teams in Detroit and won the 2011 AL Cy Young and MVP awards. He finished top-five in Cy Young voting four times from 2007-2012.
When he went to Houston, Verlander got even better. He won two World Series rings and posted a 2.71 ERA and 0.918 WHIP across 810.1 innings.
Last season, Verlander got off to a rough start, going 0-8 with a 4.99 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. But from July 23 onward, Verlander posted a 2.60 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP while striking out 70 batters in 72.2 innings.
Verlander’s underlying metrics are still solid. He limited hard contact at an above-average rate in 2025 and was just below average in terms of missing bats and throwing strikes.
He joins a starting rotation that already features Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez, Reese Olson, Casey Mize, and Jack Flaherty.
Details of Verlander’s deal for 2026 have not been revealed.
Verlander turns 43 years old on Feb. 20 and is currently at 266 career wins.
Skubal clearly supports the move. Here was his immediate response:
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! pic.twitter.com/R1T1378gwn
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) February 10, 2026
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.