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Justin Verlander's return to Detroit has attracted a lot of attention because, beyond adding a veteran to their starting rotation, the Tigers have reassured their fans and secured their ace, Tarik Skubal, at the same time.
Although Skubal's contract situation is not simple, the Tigers have still made efforts to make the winner of the Cy Young Award for the past two seasons in the American League feel comfortable in his role by adding talent and experience to support him.
This is so awesome
Via @tigers pic.twitter.com/HKMjux2pDJ
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) February 11, 2026
In addition to bringing back veteran Verlander, the Tigers' management also signed Framber Valdez, who played for the Houston Astros for the past eight seasons, but whose relationship with his former teammates took a hit following his actions on the mound.
Verlander and Valdez will join Skubal, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize to complete the Tigers' rotation in 2026. This solid and seasoned group of starters will make this team a formidable opponent. Many experts are predicting that the Tigers will win the American League Central title, and rightly so.
The Skubal-Verlander duo is unique in that both pitchers have won multiple Cy Young Awards. In total, the two teammates have five honors awarded to the best in their profession. Skubal's two consecutive titles are complemented by Verlander's three trophies. It's not every day that such a situation occurs. They are the eleventh duo in history to have two guys with at least two Cy Young Awards under their belts in the same rotation.
Tarik Skubal & Justin Verlander for DET will be the 11th duo of *multi-time* Cy Young winners to pitch for the same team in the same year
**having already won 2+ CYA entering that season**
they'll joinhttps://t.co/6oyKWRjiLV
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) February 10, 2026
Last year, Blake Snell and Clayton Kershaw shared the spotlight with the Dodgers as multiple winners of the coveted trophy.
This situation will be the talk of Detroit this season, but the Tigers' performance is likely to take center stage, and rightly so. A.J. Hinch's men will want to put a rather difficult end to the 2025 season behind them, as well as a playoff run that was cut short by the Seattle Mariners.
Even though he won his arbitration case (he will earn a salary of $32 million in 2026), Tarik Skubal has not had his long-term contract situation resolved and could become a free agent in 2027. The presence of a veteran of Justin Verlander's caliber will help his cause by allowing him to focus on what he can control, namely his immense talent and the quality of each of his starts.
Let's just say that the organization has stacked the odds in its favor by adding two quality pitchers to a rotation that needed them, while allowing its best player to shine again in 2026 and hopefully win a third consecutive Cy Young Award.
The only downside in Detroit is that the Tigers' offense is not the most formidable in the league, and the pitchers will have to step up their game to help the Michigan team achieve consistent success. One thing is certain: Skubal will be worth every penny invested in him.
This content was created with the help of AI.
