Just announced, Justin Verlander has signed a 5 year and 180 million dollar extension with the Detroit Tigers, keeping him in a Detroit uniform until at least 2019. The deal includes a vesting option for 202o which could make the deal worth up to 202 million. The conditions of the vesting option are yet to be announced. This makes Verlander the highest paid pitcher in baseball history.
Verlander was previously under contract for the next two seasons, and had previously commented that he didn’t have an extension by his last spring training start, which was several days ago, that he wouldn’t talk contract until the 2013 season was over. This move comes as a surprise to most in the baseball community as no body really saw it coming until a tweet this morning from Verlander hinted at “big news to come”.
His previous contract will run though 2014 and the 5 year extension will kick in for the 2015 season and beyond.
This deal is very similar to the one Felix Hernandez signed earlier in the off season for five years and 175 million dollars. Verlander used Hernandez’s contract as a baseline for his last negotiation in 2009, making it no doubt that he used it again.
Verlander’s most recent tweet following the announcement:
@JustinVerlander: I love this city & the fans – couldn’t be more excited to spend my career here! We’re going to bring a World Series to Detroit!!!