Bold statement: Justin Verlander’s return to the Detroit Tigers isn’t just a comeback—it signals both his enduring longevity and the franchise’s rising relevance after years in the shadows. But here’s where it gets controversial: the timing, the contract, and what it truly means for a team rebuilding around new stars.
Verlander, now with the San Francisco Giants, warmed up on the mound in anticipation of facing the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sept. 17 in Phoenix, a moment captured in AP’s photo archive.
In Lakeland, Florida, Verlander reflected on a journey that could lead back to Detroit. He recently agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with the Tigers. The last time he pitched for Detroit was in 2017, before he was traded to Houston that same season.
“I always thought there might be a chance I’d return someday to help the franchise at a moment when they’re thriving again,” Verlander said, who will turn 43 next week. “Back then, and even a few years ago, that didn’t seem plausible, especially after the neck injury and the uncertainty that followed.”
During his first stint with the Tigers, Verlander helped win two pennants and earned AL MVP honors in 2011. When Detroit needed to rebuild, he was traded away, and he later celebrated two World Series championships with the Astros.
The Tigers finally broke through to the postseason in 2024 and did so again last year, anchored by a new ace who has already claimed two Cy Young Awards—Tarik Skubal.
Verlander indicated openness to a return this offseason, though initial signals suggested the feeling might not be mutual. The landscape shifted when the Tigers lost right-hander Reese Olson to a season-ending shoulder surgery, potentially opening a spot on the pitching staff.
“Early on, it didn’t seem like there was much room for me,” Verlander explained. “Then, a series of recent events changed the arithmetic—innings that were expected to be available won’t be, and that created an opportunity.”
Source: AP MLB news coverage
