SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants have officially sealed a one-year deal worth $15 million with veteran pitcher Justin Verlander, as announced on Saturday.
Verlander, who has won the AL Cy Young Award three times, will enhance a starting rotation that is expected to be spearheaded by All-Star right-hander Logan Webb.
Last season, Verlander had a mixed performance with the Houston Astros, finishing with a record of 5-6 and a 5.48 ERA over 17 starts. His season got off to a rough start as he began on the injured list due to shoulder issues and spent additional time on the IL between June and August because of neck pain.
Turning 42 next month, the right-handed pitcher struggled in September, compiling a 9.26 ERA in five starts and was ultimately omitted from the Astros’ postseason roster. Houston’s playoff run ended abruptly as they were swept by the Detroit Tigers in the AL Wild Card Series. As a result of not reaching 140 innings pitched, Verlander became a free agent, missing out on a conditional player option worth $35 million.
In an interview from October, Verlander expressed his desire to keep playing and competing, stating he is not ready to retire just yet.
A native of Virginia and a product of Old Dominion University, Verlander boasts an impressive record of 262-147 along with a 3.30 ERA across 526 career major league starts. He holds various active leaderboards with the most wins, strikeouts (3,416), and innings pitched (3,415 2/3), along with leading in starts and complete games (26). In the postseason, he has a 3.58 ERA with a record of 17-12 in 38 appearances.
Verlander began his illustrious career with over 12 seasons at the Detroit Tigers. He earned his first Cy Young Award and was named the AL MVP in 2011 after an outstanding season with a 24-5 record and a 2.40 ERA.
In a significant career move, he was traded to the Houston Astros in August 2017, playing a pivotal role in securing the franchise’s first World Series title. Verlander not only won two additional Cy Young Awards in Houston but also clinched another championship during his initial tenure with the team.
After signing a two-year, $86.7 million contract with the New York Mets as a free agent in December 2022, Verlander made 16 starts before being traded back to Houston for two minor league players.
In a related roster move, catcher Blake Sabol was designated for assignment to accommodate Verlander’s addition.
This offseason marks a significant transition for the Giants, as Buster Posey takes over from Farhan Zaidi as president of baseball operations. San Francisco has also invested in free agent shortstop Willy Adames, signing him to a seven-year deal worth $182 million in December.
