DETROIT — Justin Verlander plans to call it a career later this year.
The three-time American League Cy Young Award winner, two-time World Series champion and 2011 AL MVP will retire after this season with the Detroit Tigers. Verlander made the announcement Wednesday, shortly after he was added as a “Legend Pick” to the AL roster for next week’s MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
“While I’m fully committed to giving my team everything I have for the rest of this season, I’ve decided this will be my last,” Verlander wrote on social media. “It’s fitting that I get to finish where it all started — with the Detroit Tigers, the organization that drafted me and gave me my first opportunity.”
The 43-year-old Verlander, who signed a $13 million, one-year contract to rejoin the Tigers in February, is the oldest player in the majors this season. He allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings during a 9-6 road loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 30. That was his only start this year.
“It’s time for the next chapter,” Verlander added in his post. “But first, I’m excited to finish this season the only way I know how — with everything I’ve got.”
Verlander went on the injured list with hip inflammation early in the season, and when the right-hander was nearing a return last month, he pulled a hamstring muscle during a bullpen session.
“It just felt like I was plugging holes in a boat,” he said at a news conference Wednesday. “When you kind of put everything together and consider everything, I’ve been kind of trending toward this decision for quite a while.”
He was scheduled to pitch in June and make what would have been his first start with the Tigers at Detroit’s Comerica Park since Aug. 30, 2017 — the day before he was traded to the Houston Astros. He still intends to make that start and is scheduled to throw another bullpen session before Thursday’s game against the Athletics.
“I do want to focus on playing the rest of the season,” he said. “I think there will be a time to really sit here and reminisce and focus more on the actual retirement. Right now, my focus is still to get out there and be the best version of myself I can be for this team. We are playing great baseball right now, and things are going well, and we’re trending in the right direction.
“I’m champing at the bit to be part of it.”
The Tigers beat the Athletics 6-1 later Wednesday, pushing their streak of wins to four and improving to 42-50. The Tigers are fourth in the AL Central Division and 5 1/2 games out of first place. They’re four games out of the league’s final wild-card spot.
Verlander went 183-115 from 2005-17 with the Tigers. He was voted the AL rookie of the year in 2006 and both the AL MVP and the league’s Cy Young Award winner in 2011. He helped Detroit reach the World Series in 2006 and 2012 and win four straight division titles from 2011 to 2014.
Verlander was the 2017 AL Championship Series MVP after being traded that summer to Houston. He helped the Astros win the World Series that year and was a key player for them when they won another MLB title in 2022. He won his second and third Cy Young honors in 2019 and 2022.
“I’ve been fortunate to play with and against incredible players, for outstanding organizations, and compete in front of fans who deeply appreciate the game,” Verlander said.
While he will not play in the MLB All-Star Game, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Verlander will be in Philadelphia on Tuesday and will be honored during the festivities at Citizens Bank Park.
“The opportunity to attend once again is something I’ll cherish and it will be an incredibly special moment for me and my family,” said Verlander, who is married to model Kate Upton and has two children.
Verlander has a career record of 266-159 with a 3.33 ERA in 556 starts across 21 MLB seasons with the Tigers, Astros, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. He has 3,554 strikeouts while tossing 26 complete games, including nine shutouts.
He joins Bryce Harper of the host Philadelphia Phillies as a Legend Pick for the 2026 Midsummer Classic. Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera and Clayton Kershaw in 2025 have been recognized as baseball legends at previous MLB All-Star Games.