Tigers give Verlander five-year extension
Posted March 29, 2013 1:24 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Detroit Tigers have locked up Justin Verlander.
The defending American League champions agreed to a new five-year extension with the ace right-hander Friday afternoon.
According to ESPN.com, Verlander’s new deal will make him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball. He’s set to receive $20 million for each of the next two seasons, then $28 million annually from 2015-2019, according to reporter Buster Olney’s sources.
Felix Hernandez was the most recent highest-paid pitcher, when he signed a seven-year, $175 million deal earlier in the off-season.
Verlander, 30, had a 17-8 record with 239 strikeouts, a 2.64 ERA, 1.06 WHIP in 238.1 innings last season. He finished second in Cy Young voting behind Tampa Bay’s David Price.
The five-time all-star has been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball the last five seasons. He became the first pitcher to win the AL MVP since Dennis Eckersley with the Oakland Athletics in 1992 and won his first CY Young award that same season.
Earlier Friday, Verlander tweeted that “big news” was coming.
He later said he would bring the World Series to the city.
