Ace Justin Verlander will play for the San Francisco Giants in the 2025 MLB season. According to multiple sources, the 3-time Cy Young winner and the Giants agreed to a one-year, $15 million deal.
The deal is reportedly pending a physical and is expected to become official by the end of the week.
Verlander was on the free agent market longer than expected after a down 2024 season with the Houston Astros. He dealt with shoulder inflammation that limited him to 17 starts, in which he went 5-6 with a 5.48 ERA, his worst since rookie season, and 74 strikeouts.
While Verlander struggled last year and is set to turn 42 in February, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the Giants decided to take a flier on him. He is a future Hall of Famer and is just two seasons removed from his most recent Cy Young Award-winning campaign. Additionally, the Giants already have an enticing rotation that doesn’t have to depend on Verlander being on top of his game to deliver, but he can reap the benefits if he ends up finding his groove.
Additionally, Verlander will bring experience and leadership to the clubhouse and serve as a mentor to the Giants’ young pitchers, such as Kyle Harrison, Hayden Birdsong, and Landen Roupp.
Justin Verlander made his MLB debut with the Detroit Tigers in 2005 and went on to play 13 years for the franchise. He went on to spend six years with the Houston Astros, winning two World Series, before signing a record deal with the New York Mets ahead of 2023. His stint with the Mets lasted eight months, and he was traded back to the Astros.
Verlander has a career record of 262–147 with 3.30 ERA and 3,416 strikeouts. He is the leader in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched among all active players.