Justin Verlander, the three-time Cy Young Award winner and future Hall of Famer, is returning to the Detroit Tigers on a one-year, $13 million contract for the 2026 season, the team announced Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. The deal includes a $2 million signing bonus and performance incentives that could push the total value above $15 million, reuniting the 43-year-old right-hander with the franchise where he spent 13 dominant seasons and won his first Cy Young Award.
The move marks a sentimental homecoming for Verlander, who began his career with the Tigers in 2005, became the face of the franchise during their 2011–2014 playoff runs, and pitched the team’s most recent no-hitter (2011) before being traded to the Houston Astros in August 2017. After winning two World Series titles with Houston (2017, 2022) and earning his third Cy Young in 2019, Verlander expressed a desire to finish his career where it started.
“I always said if I had the chance to come back to Detroit, I’d jump at it,” Verlander said in a statement released by the Tigers. “This city, this organization, these fans — they mean everything to me. I’m not here just to collect a paycheck. I’m here to compete, to mentor the young pitchers, and to help this team win again. Detroit gave me everything; now I want to give something back.”
The Tigers, coming off a surprising 88-74 season in 2025 that saw them reach the American League Wild Card round, view Verlander as both a veteran ace and a cultural force. Manager A.J. Hinch, who managed Verlander in Houston, called the signing “a full-circle moment.”
“Justin’s work ethic, his preparation, his competitiveness — those are the standards we want in our clubhouse,” Hinch said. “Beyond the innings he’ll eat and the games he’ll win, he’s going to make everyone around him better. This is a huge get for us.”
Verlander, who turns 44 in February 2026, is coming off a strong 2025 campaign with the Astros, where he went 11-6 with a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts despite missing time with a shoulder strain. He struck out 148 batters in 152⅓ innings and showed his fastball still touched 95 mph late in the season. The move to Detroit allows him to pitch closer to his Michigan home, where he and wife Kate Upton maintain a residence.
Financially, the one-year deal represents a significant pay cut from his previous $43.3 million average annual value with Houston, but it includes escalators tied to innings pitched (up to $1 million for 160+ innings) and playoff appearances. The Tigers also hold a $15 million mutual option for 2027, with a $3 million buyout.
A Storied Detroit Legacy
Verlander debuted with the Tigers in 2005 and quickly became the ace of a rotation that included Jeremy Bonderman and Nate Robertson. He won the AL Rookie of the Year in 2006 (shared with Daisuke Matsuzaka) and anchored Detroit’s 2006 and 2011 American League pennant winners. His 2011 season — 24-5, 2.40 ERA, 250 strikeouts — earned him the AL MVP and Cy Young, one of only two pitchers since 1986 to win both in the same year (the other being Roger Clemens in 1986).
In 13 seasons with Detroit, Verlander compiled a 203-141 record, 3.44 ERA, 2,373 strikeouts, and three no-hitters (2007, 2011, 2011 postseason). He remains the Tigers’ all-time leader in strikeouts and is second in wins and innings pitched. The 2011 no-hitter against Toronto remains one of the most electrifying moments in Comerica Park history.
After the 2017 trade to Houston, Verlander won World Series titles in 2017 and 2022, earned his third Cy Young in 2019, and surpassed 3,000 career strikeouts in 2022. He has 262 career wins and 3,342 strikeouts as of the end of 2025, ranking him 24th and 14th all-time, respectively. He is virtually assured of first-ballot Hall of Fame induction once eligible.
Impact on the Tigers’ 2026 Outlook
The signing bolsters a rotation that already includes Tarik Skubal (2024 AL Cy Young winner), Reese Olson, Jack Flaherty, and rookie Jackson Jobe. Verlander is expected to slot in as the No. 2 starter behind Skubal, providing veteran stability and postseason experience.
General manager Scott Harris called the move “transformative on and off the field.”
“Justin is one of the greatest pitchers of his generation,” Harris said. “He’s going to mentor our young arms, stabilize our rotation, and give us a chance to win every fifth day. But beyond the numbers, he’s going to bring a winning culture and a championship mentality back to this clubhouse.”
The Tigers, who have not won a playoff series since 2013, are viewed as a rising contender in the AL Central. Adding Verlander gives them a proven October arm and a symbolic boost for a fan base hungry for sustained success.
Emotional Homecoming
Verlander’s return has already sparked a wave of nostalgia in Detroit. Social media flooded with throwback photos of his 2011 no-hitter, his 2006 ALCS Game 5 gem, and his emotional 2017 trade press conference. Comerica Park plans to honor him with a pregame ceremony on Opening Day (March 27, 2026, vs. Chicago White Sox) and is expected to retire his No. 35 jersey after retirement.
For a player who once said “I bleed Old English D,” the chance to finish where he started is deeply meaningful.
“I never got to say goodbye the way I wanted,” Verlander said. “This is my chance to do it right — to pitch in front of the fans who supported me from day one, to compete for a city that’s always had my back. Detroit is home. Always has been.”
As spring training approaches, the Tigers’ rotation suddenly looks formidable, and the city of Detroit has one of its own back — this time, perhaps for one final, unforgettable run.
