The future Hall of Famer was selected by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred as a “Legend Pick,” which quickly prompted a somewhat surprising retirement announcement from the Detroit Tigers starter.
Verlander re-signed with the Tigers before the season on a one-year, $13 million deal that carried $11 million in deferred money.
So far, it hasn’t worked out. Verlander’s lone start this year came back on March 30, when he allowed five runs in 3⅔ innings and was placed on the injured list shortly after.
“This season has challenged me in ways I haven’t experienced before, both physically and mentally,” Verlander said. “I’ve always believed that as long as I could compete at the level I expect of myself, I’d keep playing. I never wanted to retire because of a milestone, a number, or a date on the calendar. I wanted the game to tell me when it was time. Over the last several months, I’ve realized that time has come.”
Read more: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2026/07/08/justin-verlander-mlb-all-star-game-tigers/90849128007/
📹 Video by Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press