Orioles and Tigers sign starting pitchers to lofty contracts

Two Major League Baseball pitchers signed lofty contracts over this past week. First future Hall of Fame pitcher Justin Verlander of Manakin, Virginia is making his second stint with the Detroit Tigers after signing a one-year contract worth $13 million according to the Associated Press. Then, the Baltimore Orioles signed Chris Bassitt of Toledo, Ohio to a one-year contract worth $18.5 million according to Rogers Sportsnet.

Verlander originally played 13 seasons with the Tigers from 2005 to 2017. In that time, he won the 2006 American League Rookie of the Year, the 2011 American League Cy Young Award, and the 2011 American League Most Valuable Player. Verlander has also played for the Houston Astros, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants.

This past season with the Giants, Verlander pitched 152 innings at 42 years of age. He had a record of four wins and 11 losses, but had a respectable earned run average of 3.85. Verlander pitched 152 innings and gave up 155 hits, 65 earned runs, 16 home runs and 52 walks, to go along with 137 strikeouts, 11 quality starts and a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 1.36.

Bassitt is initially from Toledo, Ohio. He previously pitched for the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics (was an American League All-Star in 2011), New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays. In 2025, Bassitt had a record of 11 wins and nine losses for an earned run average of 3.96. During 32 games in 2025, he pitched 170 1/3 innings, and gave up 174 hits, 75 earned runs, 22 home runs, and 52 walks, to go along with 166 strikeouts, 11 quality starts and a WHIP of 1.33. The complete game came in a 6-1 Blue Jays won over the Chicago White Sox on July 8.