A few months after the Seattle Mariners locked up Felix Hernandez long term, the Detroit Tigers signed Justin Verlander to a five-year contract extension that will keep him with the Tigers through 2019 and even 2020 if a vesting option kicks in.
The 30-year-old Verlander – who originally signed a five-year, $180 million extension for 2010-2014 – is now the highest-paid pitcher in Major League history with the $180 million that is guaranteed. He can receive a $22 million vesting option for 2020 (when he will be 37) that would make the deal worth $202 million.
Hernandez signed a seven-year, $175 million contract with the Mariners over the offseason. His tenure as baseball’s highest-paid pitcher was short-lived, and chances are so will Verlander’s status since the Los Angeles Dodgers will likely ink left-hander Clayton Kershaw long term since he can become a free agent after the 2014 season.
Over his seven-year Major League career, Verlander has collected an array of awards and honors. He was American League Rookie of the Year in 2006, when Detroit won the AL pennant. In 2011, he earned his first AL Cy Young and was also named the AL Most Valuable Player. Last year, he finished second in Cy Young balloting and guided the Tigers to the AL pennant.
Verlander has a career record of 124-65 with a 3.40 ERA. He has logged 20 complete games, including six last season, and he has eclipsed 200 innings six consecutive years, including 251 in 2011 and 238.1 in 2012.
