Like every competent team in baseball, the Giants were in on the hot-shot Japanese free-agent pitcher, who, like Shohei Ohtani before him, is limited to signing a minor-league deal with a Major League team. That massively discounted rate allowed every team to sign him.

The San Francisco Giants made one of the biggest surprises of free agency when they signed three-time Cy Young winning pitcher Justin Verlander to a one-year deal worth $15 million last week. Though the fit made a lot of sense due to the Giants need in the rotation for another high-upside starter plus the veteran leadership he brings to a young staff,

Justin Verlander and the San Francisco Giants have finalized a $15 million, one-year contract. A three-time AL Cy Young Award winner, Verlander joins a projected rotation led by All-Star right-hander Logan Webb.

Verlander was way better than his numbers with the Astros in 2024, and there's almost no such thing as a risky one-year deal. Look for him to pad his Hall of Fame resume.

Justin Verlander speaks to the media after being introduced as a San Francisco Giant for the 2025 season.Verlander excited to begin ‘new chapter' with Giants in San Francisco originally appeared on

Verlander, who will turn 42 by Opening Day, believes changes to his offseason routine will lead to more success

The veteran ace and future Hall of Famer, Justin Verlander, shared his main goal after joining the Giants' starting rotation.