San Francisco Giants Sign 1-Year, $15M Deal With Aging Justin Verlander – Is He Worth It?

Pitcher Justin Verlander will be spending his twentieth MLB season with the San Francisco Giants, following a tumultuous eight-season stretch that saw him win two World Series with the Houston Astros, sign with the Mets, and get traded back to the Astros.

The Giants signed him to a one-year contract worth $15 million.

Verlander, who turns 42 in February, is one of the most accomplished pitchers in baseball. He’s a nine-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and holds the MLB’s active title for most wins, with 262. However, he’s struggled with injury in recent years, including an elbow injury requiring Tommy John surgery that kept him sidelined through the entire 2021 season.

Verlander put up the worst season of his career in 2024, finishing with a 5.48 ERA and a 5-6 record. Over his five starts in September, he posted a 9.26 ERA.

“I definitely feel like I want to continue to pitch and compete and I’m not ready to step away yet,” he said in October, after being left off the Astros’ postseason roster.

The Giants, who finished 2024 with an 80-82-0 record, are looking to improve in perhaps the most difficult division in baseball. Verlander adds depth to a fairly young pitching rotation, which should improve with experience. San Francisco has similarly bolstered its batting lineup, signing shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million deal in December.

Verlander could provide valuable mentorship regardless, but his personal success in 2025 – and likely his future in the MLB – relies on a semi-spectacular injury comeback. Again.