Justin Verlander's comments about 2026 routine prove Tigers were best destination for him

Everything about Justin Verlander coming back to the Detroit Tigers just feels right. His recent comments about his routine and mindset entering 2026 just prove that he is exactly where he is supposed to be at this point in his career.

Appearing on the show Foul Territory, Verlander said, "It's one of my goals this year is to just appreciate things and surroundings a little bit more than I have." He went on to say that when he takes the mound again as a Tiger, he will be able to step back and appreciate the moment before locking back into his routine.

Verlander has greater perspective in his second stint with Tigers

That's the perfect attitude for the 43-year-old to have. While he is the ultimate competitor and is still driven to win games and try to compete for a World Series, he has to at least acknowledge the fact that it is pretty cool his career has lasted so long for it to come full circle like this.

Most pitchers would have had the success Verlander had with Detroit in his first stint and then would have come back in their forties to throw out a ceremonial first pitch and have their jersey number retired. It's pretty rare for a guy in this day and age to come back in his mid-forties with the expectation that he could actually be a pretty big part of Detroit's rotation.

For those who think Verlander is washed at this point in his career, anyone who saw him pitch late last season for the San Francisco Giants knows he was arguably the most reliable pitcher on that staff by the end of the year. He had a 3.85 in 29 starts so he was healthy for most of the year too.

He's picked up right where he left off in spring training this year. His strikeout percentage is in the 99th percentile as he's struck out 15 batters in 10 innings pitched so the old man is still making big league batters whiff.

It seems to be a perfect fit for both sides. Verlander is still hungry but also has the perspective to appreciate everything he's done in his career and the Tigers would use a veteran arm like him in the rotation especially if the team makes a run in the playoffs.

How perfect would it be if Verlander went out on top as a World Series champion with the team that drafted and developed him all those years ago? Now that would really be full circle.