Verlander won a career-high 19 games with a career-best 3. He is with a 3. The sides agreed to bypass salary arbitration. Verlander ended up securing a more lucrative contract than Felix Hernandez. Verlander turns 27 this month and Hernandez, who is with a 3. Detroit's decision to keep Verlander with a long-term deal backs up the franchise's claim that it is still committed to spending money to stay competitive.
They also let second baseman Placido Polanco along with relievers Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon leave in free agency. Even if the Tigers are done reshaping their roster, they'll be able to appease at least some fans by keeping Verlander under contract for at least five more years. With the new deal, they won't risk losing him in free agency after the season.
The hard-throwing Verlander is the only pitcher in baseball history to toss a no-hitter, start a World Series game and be a rookie of the year and an All-Star in his first two full seasons.
Detroit drafted Verlander with the second pick of the amateur draft and signed him just before losing his rights. He dominated minor league competition in , compiling an record and 1. He was in -- earning AL Rookie of the Year honors -- and helped Detroit advance to the World Series for the first time since He became the first Tigers pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Jack Morris did it during the championship season. Verlander was in his second season and made the All-Star team. Only Dwight Gooden, who won 41 games for the New York Mets during the seasons, won more games among pitchers in their first two full seasons since After struggling two years ago with an record, Verlander bounced back with a sensational season.
He led the majors with strikeouts, innings pitched and 35 starts in His 19 wins matched the top total in both leagues. Former teammate Kenny Rogers said Verlander's wicked fastball, wildly breaking curve and knee-buckling changeup give him an assortment of pitches that reminded him only of Nolan Ryan.
