Verlander returns to Detroit with a one-year contract, the Tiger King goes back to where his dream began.

It turns out the story of the "Old English D" (Detroit Tigers logo) truly comes full circle, at least for Justin Verlander.

Nine years ago, Verlander was traded away from Detroit, marking the unofficial start of the Tigers’ rebuild; now his return signals the team’s renewed commitment to competing at the highest level in this new era. The Tigers signed back the former AL MVP and three-time Cy Young Award winner, who has been a symbolic face of the franchise, on a one-year $13 million contract.

This surprising news was announced by the team itself in a press release just hours before the Tigers' pitchers and catchers began their first official training session. Although the signing may have been unexpected, it ends years of speculation about whether Verlander would bring his career back to its starting point. This move also pairs Verlander with Tarik Skubal, who matched Verlander's pitching triple crown achievement two years ago, while reuniting him with A.J. Hinch (his coach when he won the World Series with the Houston Astros in 2017) and former Astros teammate Framber Valdez.

Before Skubal emerged from the ninth round of the 2018 MLB draft and went on to win consecutive Cy Young Awards, Verlander was the greatest homegrown talent since the team’s own champions Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker, Jack Morris, and Lance Parrish. Former GM Dave Dombrowski and scouting director Greg Smith picked Verlander second overall in 2004, watching this former Old Dominion University graduate develop into a strikeout machine with a powerful fastball and devastating curveball. He won the AL Rookie of the Year in 2006 and helped the Tigers reach the World Series for the first time in 22 years.

Five years later, Verlander led the American League with 24 wins, 250 strikeouts, and a 2.40 ERA. He not only earned the MVP and Cy Young awards but also led a dominant starting rotation that ushered the Tigers into a new era of glory. From 2011 to 2014, the Tigers won the AL Central division title four consecutive years, with Cy Young winners Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Rick Porcello as the rotation’s core, alongside Aníbal Sánchez and David Price.

At the time, Verlander expressed his desire to emulate the great Nolan Ryan by pitching into his 40s. Now, just days before turning 43 on February 20, Verlander joins a starting rotation featuring Skubal, Valdez, former top pick turned All-Star Casey Mize, and Jack Flaherty.

It feels right, but it was far from inevitable. The Tigers had earlier signed Alex Cobb to a similar one-year $15 million deal last offseason, while Verlander signed with the Giants later in the offseason, a choice that seemed like a parallel universe. Cobb missed the entire season due to a hip injury from spring training onwards. Verlander also struggled with the San Francisco Giants, spending a month on the injured list with a right pectoral injury, missing the chance to pitch at Comerica Park, and recording a 4.99 ERA as of July 18. However, Verlander eventually regained his former form.

In his final 13 starts, Verlander posted a 2.60 ERA, a 3.36 FIP, and nearly matched his strikeouts (70) to innings pitched (72.2), averaging almost six innings per start. He threw back-to-back seven-inning games allowing just one run each in September. Four of his five September starts were quality outings.

Verlander was unable to lead the Giants into the playoffs, but his strong finish allowed him to sign with a competitive team in 2026, aiming to add another World Series championship to his Hall of Fame résumé. Ultimately, this pursuit brought him back to where his dream began. His contract includes a $2 million base salary plus $11 million in deferred payments starting in 2030.