Right-hander Justin Verlander is headed to The Bay for his 20th major league season, joining the San Francisco Giants.
The 41-year-old pitcher, who’ll turn 42 next month, agreed to a one-year deal worth $15 million with the Giants on Tuesday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported. Pending a physical, this new deal officially marks his departure from the Houston Astros.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: Right-hander Justin Verlander and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a one-year contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. The future Hall of Famer, who turns 42 next month, will spend his 20th season with the Giants.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1876780183174168633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
Verlander, a nine-time All-Star and three-time AL Cy Young winner, was limited to just 17 starts last season due to multiple IL stints. He missed the start of the 2024 campaign because of shoulder inflammation and was on the shelf for two months before returning in mid-August due to neck discomfort.
Complicating matters, the results weren’t impressive when Verlander was healthy, as he pitched to a troubling 5.48 ERA and 4.78 FIP across 90.1 innings. He also posted a measly 18.7-per-cent strikeout rate, the lowest of his career since 2014 (17.8 per cent).
After delivering a 9.26 ERA in five starts in September, the future Hall-of-Fame hurler was left off Houston’s post-season roster during its AL wild-card series – in which they were swept 2-0 – against the Detroit Tigers, a team he spent 13 seasons with from 2005-17.
Verlander failed to trigger his $35-million player option for 2025 after finishing well shy of 140 innings pitched last season, making him a free agent.
The Giants were previously linked to fellow righty Corbin Burnes before he inked a six-year, $210-million contract with one of their NL West division rivals, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Instead, president of baseball operations Buster Posey has now pivoted to one of the most decorated starting pitchers from the current era.
San Francisco is betting on a healthy Verlander returning to form next season as he joins a rotation that includes ace Logan Webb, a pair of former Toronto Blue Jays pitchers &#8212; Robbie Ray and Jordan Hicks &#8212; and Kyle Harrison. The club also features plenty of triple-A pitching depth, with six starters on their 40-man roster slated to open 2025 in the minors, four of which appeared in the majors last season.
That&#8217;s without including top pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt, who&#8217;ll more than likely make his major league debut at some point in &#8217;25 after logging 104.2 innings at triple-A a season ago.
Signing Verlander is the latest headline move as part of an aggressive off-season for Posey and the Giants, which began with inking shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182-million contract earlier this winter.

Right-hander Justin Verlander is headed to The Bay for his 20th major league season, joining the San Francisco Giants.

The 41-year-old pitcher, who’ll turn 42 next month, agreed to a one-year deal worth $15 million with the Giants on Tuesday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported. Pending a physical, this new deal officially marks his departure from the Houston Astros.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: Right-hander Justin Verlander and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a one-year contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. The future Hall of Famer, who turns 42 next month, will spend his 20th season with the Giants.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1876780183174168633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
Verlander, a nine-time All-Star and three-time AL Cy Young winner, was limited to just 17 starts last season due to multiple IL stints. He missed the start of the 2024 campaign because of shoulder inflammation and was on the shelf for two months before returning in mid-August due to neck discomfort.

Complicating matters, the results weren’t impressive when Verlander was healthy, as he pitched to a troubling 5.48 ERA and 4.78 FIP across 90.1 innings. He also posted a measly 18.7-per-cent strikeout rate, the lowest of his career since 2014 (17.8 per cent).

After delivering a 9.26 ERA in five starts in September, the future Hall-of-Fame hurler was left off Houston’s post-season roster during its AL wild-card series – in which they were swept 2-0 – against the Detroit Tigers, a team he spent 13 seasons with from 2005-17.

Verlander failed to trigger his $35-million player option for 2025 after finishing well shy of 140 innings pitched last season, making him a free agent.

The Giants were previously linked to fellow righty Corbin Burnes before he inked a six-year, $210-million contract with one of their NL West division rivals, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Instead, president of baseball operations Buster Posey has now pivoted to one of the most decorated starting pitchers from the current era.

San Francisco is betting on a healthy Verlander returning to form next season as he joins a rotation that includes ace Logan Webb, a pair of former Toronto Blue Jays pitchers -- Robbie Ray and Jordan Hicks -- and Kyle Harrison. The club also features plenty of triple-A pitching depth, with six starters on their 40-man roster slated to open 2025 in the minors, four of which appeared in the majors last season.

That's without including top pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt, who'll more than likely make his major league debut at some point in '25 after logging 104.2 innings at triple-A a season ago.

Signing Verlander is the latest headline move as part of an aggressive off-season for Posey and the Giants, which began with inking shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182-million contract earlier this winter.

Giants, Justin Verlander Agree to One-Year, $15-Million Contract

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) hits an RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning at Rogers Centre.

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