For most of his 19-year MLB career, starting pitcher Justin Verlander has pitched in the American League.
Verlander spent most of his career with the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros, but the 42-year-old will be National League bound for the 2025 season.
Tuesday evening, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Verlander had signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco Giants.
BREAKING: Right-hander Justin Verlander and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a one-year contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. The future Hall of Famer, who turns 42 next month, will spend his 20th season with the Giants.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 7, 2025
Shortly after Passan’s report, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reported that Verlander’s contract for the 2025 season was worth $15 million.
Verlander’s deal is for $15 million, per a source. https://t.co/mASEOZaPht
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) January 8, 2025
The Tigers drafted Verlander with the second pick in the 2004 MLB Draft. He debuted for the team in 2005. In his first full season, 2006, Verlander won AL Rookie of the Year honors. He went 17-9 for the Tigers, who went to the World Series.
Verlander kept getting better from there. He threw his first no-hitter in 2007 as he had another strong season.
After a down year in 2008, Verlander never looked back. He led MLB in wins and strikeouts in 2009 with 19 and 269, respectively. He nearly replicated the feat in 2010, finishing with 18 wins and 217 strikeouts.
Verlander’s 2011 season was one of the best in MLB history. He threw another no-hitter and won pitching’s Triple Crown, finishing the season leading the American League in wins (24), ERA (2.40), and strikeouts (250). His efforts prompted Verlander to not only his first career Cy Young but also named the 2011 AL MVP.
Injury issues plagued Verlander in the mid-2010s. By 2016, he was back to form, leading the American League with 254 strikeouts and finishing in a narrow second place to Rick Porcello for AL Cy Young.
At the 2017 MLB trade deadline, the Tigers dealt Verlander to the Houston Astros, ending his 11 seasons with the team and revitalizing his career.
In six seasons with the Astros, Verlander won two more Cy Youngs, two World Series, and threw another no-hitter. He was with the team from 2017-22, then left for the New York Mets in free agency. Verlander was traded back to Houston in July 2023 and spent the rest of 2023 and 2024 with Houston.
Verlander enters the 2025 season with 3,416 career strikeouts, first among active MLB players and tenth all-time.
