At 43, Verlander returns to Tigers as baseball's Tom Brady
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Justin Verlander pitching in 2006, and being photographed for a 2026 team media day. Photos: Andy Altenburger/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images; Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images
Justin Verlander has long hoped to be the Tom Brady of baseball and pitch at a high-caliber level well into his 40s.
Why it matters: His return to Comerica Park gives the Detroit Tigers legend a chance to keep that dream going.
Between the lines: Tigers fans will enjoy more than nostalgia this season — Verlander joins ace Tarik Skubal and fellow new signee Framber Valdez to form one of baseball's best pitching rotations.
State of play: Verlander turns 43 on Friday. At an age when mere mortals tweak their backs by sneezing, the veteran righty is gearing up for his 21st MLB season.
Flashback: Verlander spent his first 13 seasons as an anchor for a special era of Tigers baseball.
- He led the team to World Series appearances in 2006 and 2012, though the franchise spent years in the wilderness after his 2017 departure.
The intrigue: He was 34 years old then, a point when many players think about retirement.
- Instead, he went on to win two World Series trophies with Houston and earned two Cy Young Awards as the top American League pitcher.
What they're saying: "Since I was 22 years old, I've been saying I wanted to pitch until I was 45," the Free Press quoted Verlander as saying at a Spring Training press conference.
- He described having conversations with Brady and Tiger Woods about sustaining longevity as a pro athlete.
- "I'm just trying to always learn and adapt. Age is just a number."
What we're watching: Verlander is chasing 300 career pitching wins, a coveted milestone rarely achieved in a modern era so dominated by relief pitching.
Our thought bubble: That'll be tough to reach. He's still 34 wins away and has only won 22 games over the past three seasons.
- But we're not counting him out just yet.
The bottom line: Verlander is already a lock for the Hall of Fame, and he'll likely wear a Tigers hat upon induction.
- Until then, Tigers fans have at least this year to cheer on a local legend.
Verlander's one-year, $13 million signing helps bring the 2026 team payroll to over $200 million.
- That projects to be the highest amount to start any season in franchise history, per Baseball Prospectus research.
- More spending doesn't always equate to success, but the increase signals ownership is looking to stay competitive after back-to-back playoff appearances in 2024 and 2025.
Stunning stat: Detroit's payroll is far and away the highest of any AL Central team.
- Cleveland, the reigning divisional champ, has just $75 million on the books.
- And the rebuilding Minnesota Twins are entering an "era of austerity," our friends at Axios Twin Cities write.