MLB News: Justin Verlander, Giants Reportedly Agree to $15M Contract in Free Agency

Coming off a disappointing 2024 season, Justin Verlander will look to rebound with the San Francisco Giants in 2025.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the 41-year-old has agreed to a one-year contract to pitch for the Giants. Jesse Rogers of ESPN added that the deal is worth $15 million.

There was some uncertainty about whether Verlander would continue his storied career. He finished last season with a career-worst 5.48 ERA in 17 starts for the Houston Astros and had two different stints on the injured list.

After his final home start of the regular season on Sept. 20, he admitted he probably came back too soon from a neck injury that kept him on the IL for more than two months in the middle of the season.

"I did have doctors say it would probably take a little longer [to recover]," he said. "I want to be here for this team. … I've pitched through a lot of stuff in my career. Obviously, I'm not saying I'm not going to continue to pitch, but it's been quite difficult. [The neck] hasn't hurt. Obviously, timing stuff is just not right."

Due to his struggles in the regular season, Astros manager Joe Espada opted not to use Verlander in his playoff rotation. This certainly seemed to indicate his time in Houston was coming to an end.

The nine-time All-Star has hinted he wants to keep playing long enough to win 300 games. His age and struggles last season make that seem like an extreme long shot now. He is sitting on 262 career victories.

The Giants are giving him an opportunity to at least get closer to that total. A full offseason to properly prepare for the grind of a 162-game schedule might allow him to rebound after a rough 2024.

If nothing else, Verlander can be a useful back-end starter at this stage of his career. If he can come close to pitching like he did in 2023 with a 3.22 ERA in 27 starts, the Giants will have signed one of the biggest bargains of the offseason.