Justin Verlander Announces 2026 Retirement, Set to Finish Career as MLB's Highest-Earning Pitcher

Justin Verlander has announced that the 2026 MLB season will be the final chapter of his remarkable career, bringing an end to one of the most decorated pitching careers in modern baseball. The 43-year-old Detroit Tigers ace confirmed his retirement plans shortly after being selected as an American League Legend Pick for the 2026 All-Star Game, his 10th All-Star honor.

Verlander’s announcement closes a 21-year career that includes three Cy Young Awards, an American League MVP award, two World Series championships, and more than 3,500 career strikeouts. It also cements his place atop baseball’s financial record books, as he is set to retire as the highest-earning pitcher in MLB history. Despite spending much of the 2026 season on the injured list, Verlander remains determined to return before the season concludes and finish his career with the franchise where it all began.

Verlander says the decision had been building for some time

Speaking about his retirement, Verlander explained that the decision was the result of months of reflection rather than a single milestone.

“When you kind of put everything together and consider everything, I’ve been kind of trending toward this decision for quite a while,”

Verlander said after announcing his retirement. He also noted that the choice wasn’t driven by chasing records but by recognizing that the time felt right to move on.

The announcement came shortly after MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred named Verlander as a Legend Pick for the 2026 All-Star Game in Philadelphia, recognizing his impact on the sport despite injuries limiting him to just one appearance this season.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner finishes his career as the highest-earning pitcher in Major League Baseball history.

Verlander will retire with one of the most accomplished résumés of his generation. Across 21 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, and a return to Detroit, he has accumulated 266 regular-season victories, 3,554 strikeouts, three Cy Young Awards, the 2011 American League MVP, and two World Series titles with Houston.

According to contract tracking data from Spotrac, Verlander’s career earnings will reach approximately $411.3 million by the end of the season, making him the highest-paid pitcher in Major League Baseball history and the second-highest earning player behind only Alex Rodriguez.

His biggest contract came in 2013, when he signed a seven-year deal worth $180 million with the Tigers that could rise above $200 million through incentives, setting a new benchmark for pitcher contracts at the time.

One final goal remains in Detroit

Although injuries have disrupted his farewell season, Verlander has repeatedly expressed his desire to return before the year ends. Hip inflammation and a subsequent hamstring strain have delayed his comeback, but he has said he is eager to contribute as Detroit continues its playoff push.

Whenever his final outing comes, Verlander is expected to leave baseball as a first-ballot National Baseball Hall of Fame candidate. His longevity, sustained excellence, and impact on multiple championship teams have secured his place among the greatest pitchers in MLB history, while his return to Detroit provides a fitting conclusion to a career that started with the Tigers more than two decades ago.