Tigers deferring most of Justin Verlander's salary is actually a genius business move

Justin Verlander is officially a Detroit Tiger again.

The Tigers' front office isn't one that's inclined to listen to their fans, and there is some merit to that. As future Hall of Fame manager Terry Francona once said, "If you manage like a fan, you'll end up a fan."

Scott Harris was very firm on his club's decision not to make any drastic moves at the trade deadline (i.e. trading for Eugenio Suárez, a fan favorite idea), and the Tigers were still a playoff team. But this actually feels like a moment when Tigers fans were all saying one thing, and the front office finally listened.

Verlander will get $13 million for his one-year contract in Detroit — maybe the last of his career? — a steal for a future Hall of Famer who Tigers fans are dying to see go into the Hall with the Old English D on his cap.

But that's not all — a whopping $11 million of that money is deferred, and won't be payable until 2030. Giving Verlander just $2 million in 2026 will keep the Tigers under the luxury tax threshold after spending from Framber Valdez's contract and Tarik Skubal's arbitration victory sent payroll skyrocketing.

Tigers will defer $11 million of Justin Verlander's one-year, $13 million deal

Hard to give the Dodgers credit for anything, but the argument that any team can use deferrals to their advantage is a fair one. Of course, not everyone can do it to the effect the Dodgers have, but even the smaller-market clubs can use them sparingly and smartly.

The luxury tax threshold sits at $244 million in 2026. Per Spotrac, the Tigers are at $240.62 million without Verlander's money attached. Putting aside for a moment the magnitude of seeing Detroit's front office spend more than $200 million for the first time in franchise history — only paying Verlander $2 million to keep them just under the threshold with a tiny amount of wiggle room is just good business.

And it's a team-first move from Verlander to agree to it. He's been saying for years now that he would love to come back to the team that made him; he was just waiting for them to want him back. He hasn't closed the door on trying to keep his career alive past this season, but if 2026 is the year he decides to hang it up, he'll be doing it in a place that loves him.