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Justin Verlander Report Surfaces Minutes After Giants—Mets Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 6:58 PM ET

Legendary right-handed starter Justin Verlander is in his first season with the San Francisco Giants after signing a one-year, $15 million contract in January.

The 42-year-old debuted for the Detroit Tigers in 2005 and quickly established himself among baseball’s all-time greats. He won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2006 and, in 2007, earned his first of nine All-Star selections.

Verlander’s best season came in 2011, when he captured both the AL MVP and his first Cy Young Award by posting a 2.40 ERA with a 24-5 record and 250 strikeouts over a league-leading 34 starts.

Over 544 career regular-season starts, Verlander owns a 263-155 record with a 3.33 ERA and 3,493 strikeouts, ranking among the most durable and dominant pitchers of the modern era.

During Wednesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Giants traded reliever Tyler Rogers to the New York Mets for a package headlined by right-hander Blade Tidwell, outfielder Drew Gilbert and reliever Jose Butto.

Moments later, reports surfaced that San Francisco had made Verlander available on the trade market.

Justin Verlander is available on the trade market.

Verlander is on an expiring contract; out of respect to the future Hall of Famer, the Giants are open to working out a deal if it makes sense for Verlander and the organization.

His last 2 starts: 10 IP, 1 ER.@MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 30, 2025

After a promising start to the season, the Giants have stumbled, losing five straight games and eight of their last ten, slipping to 54-54 on the year.

Verlander’s own numbers have dipped in his age-42 campaign—he’s 1-8 with a 4.53 ERA through 18 starts—but his veteran leadership and two World Series titles still make him a valuable addition for contenders seeking rotation depth.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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