DETROIT \u2013 The Detroit Tigers have brought back longtime ace Justin Verlander for the 2026 season.<\/p>\n
Verlander, 42, spent 13 years with the Tigers from 2005-2017 before he was traded midseason to the Houston Astros.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Verlander\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
He joins a starting rotation that already features Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez, Reese Olson, Casey Mize, and Jack Flaherty.<\/p>\n
Details of Verlander\u2019s deal for 2026 have not been revealed.<\/p>\n
Verlander turns 43 years old on Feb. 20 and is currently at 266 career wins.<\/p>\n
Skubal clearly supports the move. Here was his immediate response:<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Welcome home, JV! pic.twitter.com\/R1T1378gwn<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Detroit Tigers (@tigers) February 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n