Tigers Predicted To Sign Future Hall Of Famer

At 42 years of age, Justin Verlander isn’t ready to hang up his spikes just yet. The future Hall of Famer is still figuring out where he’s going to pitch in 2026, and he reportedly isn’t lacking interested suitors.

This past week, ESPN’s Eric Karabell predicted that Verlander will sign with the Detroit Tigers.

“Verlander, the second pick in the 2004 MLB draft by the Tigers, won 183 games over 13 years for Detroit,” Karabell wrote on Friday. “Last season, he won four games for the Giants, but his 1.2 WAR wasn’t so bad, in context. Only four Tigers pitchers earned more WAR (Skubal, Reese Olson, Will Vest, Casey Mize).”

“The Tigers surely would surely make room in their rotation for this future Hall of Famer, who not only offers veteran leadership to a team looking for its third consecutive playoff berth, but warrants inclusion based on on-field performance.”

Verlander’s 2025 season with the San Francisco Giants marked a challenging yet resilient chapter in his storied tenure. After signing with the team, he posted a 4-11 record across 29 starts, logging 152 innings with a 3.85 ERA and 137 strikeouts.

Despite a sluggish start, Verlander delivered memorable performances, including a 10-strikeout game against opponents on August 31 at age 42, and he became the 10th pitcher ever to reach 3,500 career strikeouts. He closed the year strongly, earning a win in a quality start against the Rockies on September 27, helping the Giants to a 4-3 victory.

Over his 21-year career, Verlander has amassed 266 wins, 3,553 strikeouts, and a 3.32 ERA through 555 starts. A three-time Cy Young winner, two-time World Series champion, and 2011 AL MVP, he has pitched for the Tigers, Astros, Mets, and Giants, cementing his place among baseball’s all-time greats.