Justin Verlander, 43, returns to the Detroit Tigers on a one-year, $13M deal, joining as a veteran rotation piece.

Justin Verlander, 43, has returned to the Detroit Tigers on a one-year, $13 million contract, rejoining the team where his career began in 2005. The three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2011 AL MVP, who last pitched for the San Francisco Giants in 2025, posted a 4-11 record and 3.85 ERA in 29 starts but finished strong with a 2.60 ERA in his final 13 outings. The deal includes $11 million in deferred payments starting in 2030. Verlander, a nine-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion with the Astros, will serve as a veteran presence in Detroit’s rotation, likely as the No. 4 starter, as the Tigers build around younger pitchers like Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez.