Tigers just gave fans the Justin Verlander moment they have been begging for

It’s finally happening. After years of speculation, nostalgia and outright pleading from the fan base, the Detroit Tigers are bringing Justin Verlander home.

The living Tigers Legend and future Hall of Famer has agreed to return to the club on a one-year deal for the 2026 season worth a guaranteed $13 million, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. Of that total, $11 million will be deferred and paid beginning in 2030 — a structure that provides short-term payroll flexibility while delivering the emotional payoff fans have long craved.

Verlander, now 43, returns to the franchise where he became a superstar, winning Rookie of the Year, MVP and Cy Young honors while anchoring multiple postseason runs and helping define an era of Tigers baseball. Since his departure in 2017, Comerica Park has felt incomplete without him — even as he added two more Cy Young Awards and a pair of World Series titles elsewhere.

Justin Verlander returns to Tigers rotation on one-year, $13 million deal

Verlander is coming off a solid age-42 campaign with the San Francisco Giants that began unevenly but ended with the veteran right-hander once again looking like a high-quality big league starter.

Verlander logged 152 innings last season, posting a 3.85 ERA with a 20.7% strikeout rate, a 7.9% walk rate and a 34.5% ground-ball rate. Those are decent overall numbers, but they don’t fully capture how dominant he was down the stretch. Over his final 13 starts, Verlander delivered 72 2/3 innings with a sparkling 2.60 ERA, a 22.8% strikeout rate and a 7.8% walk rate.

While Verlander picked up just four wins during his time in San Francisco — slowing his pursuit of the 300-win milestone — that was more a result of inconsistent run support and bullpen struggles than anything he did on the mound.

Verlander now returns to what suddenly looks like a stacked Tigers rotation. He’ll also reunite with former Houston Astros teammate Framber Valdez, who agreed to a three-year, $115 million contract with Detroit last week.

Verlander likely slots in as the Tigers' fourth starter behind ace Tarik Skubal, Valdez and Jack Flaherty. Beyond him, Detroit's rotation depth also includes the likes of Casey Mize, Reese Olson, Troy Melton and Drew Anderson — not to mention Jackson Jobe, who could return from Tommy John recovery during the second half of the season.

For Detroit, this isn’t just a sentimental signing. It’s a calculated bet that Verlander still has something left — and recent performance suggests that he does. For a fan base that has endured a lengthy rebuild and years of “what if?” conversations, this move delivers a rare combination of both production and nostalgia.