​Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander, the oldest active player in Major League Baseball at 43, announced on Wednesday that he will retire following the 2026 season. In a statement posted on X, Verlander reflected on a season that has tested him more than any other in physical and mental terms. The former AL MVP of 2011 explained that he has always believed he would continue playing as long as he could compete at the level he expects of himself. He said he never wanted to retire because of a milestone, a number, or a calendar date; he wanted the game to tell him when it was time. “Over the last several months, I’ve realized that time has come,” he stated.
Verlander returned to the Detroit Tigers on a one-year, $13 million deal for this season. He began his MLB career with the Tigers in 2005 and spent his first 13 seasons in Detroit before joining the Houston Astros, where he enjoyed a stellar run that included World Series championships in 2017 and 2022. This season, Verlander has pitched only one start for the Tigers and landed on the injured list in April due to hip and hamstring issues. Despite the setbacks, he asserted that he remains “fully committed” to giving the Tigers his best for the remainder of the year. “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,” he added.
In addition, Verlander expressed gratitude to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred for naming him a “Legend Pick” for next week’s All-Star game. His resume across the majors is extensive: Verlander has also played for the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants, and he stands as one of only six pitchers in MLB history to throw three no-hitters. He has accumulated 266 career wins and 3,554 strikeouts, placing him eighth on MLB’s all-time list in strikeouts. Verlander’s decision to retire after the 2026 season marks the end of a storied era, one defined by durability, elite performance, and a relentless drive to compete at the highest level.